surely
gb/ʃˈʊɹli/ us/ʃˈʊɹli/
B1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B1
property
1
Without any doubt
Used to say that you are very sure something is true or will happen.
Usage pattern:
surely [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'surely' with 'sure', using 'I am surely' instead of 'I am sure'. 'Surely' modifies the whole sentence or verb, not the subject as an adjective would.
Synonyms
certainly (Slightly more formal and neutral in tone.)
Antonyms
possibly (Suggests uncertainty instead of complete certainty.)
Collocations
surely true
|surely happen
|surely know
|surely be
Themes
daily life
|opinions
|emphasis
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Surely she didn't mean to offend you.
- This is surely the best pizza in town.
- He will surely win the award after such a performance.
- Surely you can see why this matters.
- They will surely arrive before noon.
Learner examples
- She will surely come to the party.
- This is surely a good idea.
- He will surely help us.
- I surely know the answer.
- You will surely like this movie.
adverb
B2
property
2
Expressing surprise or doubt
Used to say you think something is surprising or not likely to be true.
Usage pattern:
Surely [clause]?
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'surely' in statements when they mean disbelief; in such cases, it should be used with question form for clarity.
Synonyms
really (In questions, 'really?' also expresses disbelief but is less emphatic.)
Antonyms
of course (Indicates complete acceptance instead of doubt.)
Collocations
Surely not
|Surely you don't mean
|Surely you can't
Themes
opinions
|conversation
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Surely you don't expect me to believe that story.
- Surely he can't be serious about quitting.
- Surely they aren't charging that much for tickets!
- Surely you're not suggesting we cancel the trip.
- Surely she wouldn't lie about something so important.
Learner examples
- Surely you are joking?
- Surely he is not angry?
- Surely they are not serious?
- Surely she does not want that?
- Surely this is not true?
Grammar
Dictionary form
surely
IPA
GB/ʃˈʊɹli/
US/ʃˈʊɹli/
Syllables & stress
surely (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (surely)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: surely
- Plural: surelies
Word family
Expressions
surely enough
1/ʃˈʊɹli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
As expected, it happened
Used to say that something happened just as you thought it would.
Examples
- I thought it might rain, and surely enough, it did.
- He promised he’d call, and surely enough, the phone rang.
surely not
1/ʃˈʊɹli nˈɑt/
fixed phrase
Strong disbelief about a negative idea
Used to say you do not believe something bad or surprising could be true.
Examples
- Surely not! He can't have failed the test.
- Surely not—you don't mean we're lost already?