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

Moreover, one particular scene of Phyllis at home alone simply doesn’t work. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024

Put simply, these are moves that involve pulling resistance toward your body or off the ground, Evan Williams, CSCS, CPT, founder of E2G Performance, tells SELF. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 25 Apr. 2024

As has happened with so many rifts in our country’s history, students have simply used their activism to become a prism reflecting the wider world. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024

Perhaps the most common way is that your work life simply becomes unsustainable. —Kandi Wiens, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024

Or simply open up entries for interested parties by way of email submission on your website. —Josh Camitta, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2024

Its 17 guest rooms are simply decorated and filled with antiques. —Jennifer Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024

Put simply, there aren’t enough of them to meet the requirements of powering generative AI on the scale chips sales would indicate. —Aroosh Thillainathan, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024

The practical and aesthetic purposes of indicator lights To put it simply, an indicator light just reflects the status of a device, and that varies from product to product. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 13 Apr. 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