purely

adverb

pure·​ly ˈpyu̇r-lē 

1

a

: to a full extent : totally

purely by accident

b

: wholly, exclusively

a selection based purely on merit

2

: without admixture of anything injurious or foreign

3

: simply, merely

read purely for relaxation

4

: in a chaste or innocent manner

Synonyms

• chastely
• innocently
• modestly
• morally
• righteously
• virtuously

Examples of purely in a Sentence

They met purely by accident.

a selection based purely on merit

The organization's mission, purely and simply, is to provide food to people who need it.

It was purely and simply a matter of greed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Unlike other pieces chosen purely for aesthetic appeal, charm bracelets tell a story. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 1 June 2025

Instead of managing personalities and transfer sagas, Enrique was allowed to focus purely on the pitch. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 1 June 2025

In a market where crypto narratives evolve quickly, a yield-bearing stablecoin ETF could be the next wave, offering crypto-originated income that is not purely speculative in its own. —Cloris Chen, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

From your perspective, how does this new defensive line stack up against last year’s from a purely physical perspective. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 31 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for purely

• demurely
• maturely
• obscurely
• securely
• insecurely
• prematurely
• surely

Kids Definition

purely

adverb

pure·​ly ˈpyu̇(ə)r-lē 

1

: to the full or entire extent

2

: without the addition of anything harmful or different

3

: for no other reason than : only

done purely for fun

4

: in an innocent manner