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
4
: in a chaste or innocent manner
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
The next few years could see a resurgence of domestic manufacturing and an increase in local investments, but those predictions are purely speculative.
—
John Ganem, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
While Chris' construction of a xenon-halogen laser to solve the power problem was purely theoretical at the time, the underlying scientific details were later outlined in a scientific paper—a fitting example of how science and Hollywood can both benefit from such collaborations.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
For example, a purely hypothetical deal of Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Nikola Jovic and two or three first-rounders for Morant and a minimum salary would work within cap rules.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
On the contrary, Ford’s design is entirely electronic which is purely meant to mimic the feel of changing gears.
—New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purely
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John Ganem, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
While Chris' construction of a xenon-halogen laser to solve the power problem was purely theoretical at the time, the underlying scientific details were later outlined in a scientific paper—a fitting example of how science and Hollywood can both benefit from such collaborations.
—ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
For example, a purely hypothetical deal of Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Nikola Jovic and two or three first-rounders for Morant and a minimum salary would work within cap rules.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
On the contrary, Ford’s design is entirely electronic which is purely meant to mimic the feel of changing gears.
—New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purely
Cite this Entry
“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purely. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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