merely
gb/mˈɪɹli/ us/mˈɪɹli/
B1
Engleză
~ 1300
csak, pusztán
B1
1
Tipar de utilizare:
merely [verb/phrase]
He was merely trying to help.
This is merely a temporary solution.
I’m not angry; I’m merely surprised.
It’s merely a scratch, nothing serious.
Exemple pentru cursanți
I am merely asking a question.
She was merely tired, not sick.
It is merely a game.
He is merely a student.
Greșeală frecventă:
Learners sometimes confuse 'merely' with 'barely'; 'barely' means 'almost not', while 'merely' means 'only'.
Sens
only; nothing more
Colocații
merely a matter of
|merely an illusion
|merely a suggestion
|merely symbolic
Sinonime
only (Most direct synonym; 'only' is more common and less formal.)
|
just ('Just' is more informal and often used in spoken English.)
Antonime
significantly (Opposite in meaning when stressing importance rather than triviality.)
|
substantially (Opposite when indicating something of large extent or importance.)
Teme
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definiție
Used to say that something is only what you say and not more.
Used to emphasize that something is only what is stated and nothing more.
Gramatică
Forma de dicționar
merely
IPA
GB/mˈɪɹli/
US/mˈɪɹli/
Silabe și accent
merely (1 silabă)
Stress on 1st syllable (merely)
Forme ale cuvântului
Noun
- Base: merely
- Plural: merelies
Familie de cuvinte
Forms
merelies
noun
Core family
mere
adjective B2
Expresii
merely a matter of
1/mˈɪɹli ə mˈætɚ əv/
fixed phrase
only related to one thing
Used to say that something depends on or is about only one thing.
Exemple
- It’s merely a matter of time before they find out.
- Solving this problem is merely a matter of patience.
merely for show
1/mˈɪɹli fɚ ʃˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
only for appearance's sake
Done only to look good, not because it is real or needed.
Exemple
- The security cameras are merely for show.
- His smile was merely for show; he was still upset.