simply

adverb

sim·​ply ˈsim-plē 

 for sense 1 also  -pə-lē

1

a

: without ambiguity : clearly

b

: without embellishment : plainly

c

: directly, candidly

2

a

: solely, merely

eats simply to keep alive

simply cleaned it up and went to bed

—Garrison Keillor

b

: really, literally

the concert was simply marvelous

—often used as an intensive

simply crawling with geniuses

—F. Scott Fitzgerald

Synonyms

• alone
• exclusively
• just
• only
• purely
• solely

Examples of simply in a Sentence

Simply add water to the mix and stir.

Simply click on the computer icon and follow the directions.

If he continues to bother you, simply ignore him.

You can order new checks simply by calling or going online.

It is simply a matter of time before something goes wrong.

The instructions are simply written.

He lived simply on the farm.

The diner is called simply “Joe's.”

“Sorry, I can't help you,” he said simply.

The problem, put simply, is money.

Recent Examples on the Web

Smaller firms simply lack the resources to compete in this space. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024

Perhaps things are so tough right now that simply for Spurs to escape with a point and no fresh injuries is a big plus. —Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024

The running joke about Black Twitter, especially as it was subjected to more mainstream attention, was that there was no sign-up sheet to join; outsiders didn’t understand that Black Twitter was simply where conversation happened. —Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Dec. 2024

Organizations that struggle to patch promptly or are simply unable to patch due to reliance on legacy software must consider an alternate approach. —Austin Gadient, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing simply

• simply connected
• simply ordered

Kids Definition

simply

adverb

sim·​ply ˈsim-plē 

1

a

: in a clear manner

stated the directions simply

b

: in a plain manner

simply dressed

c

: in a direct manner : candidly

told the story as simply as a child would

2

a

: for nothing more than

eats simply to keep alive

b

: without any question : truly

simply marvelous