mere

1 of 4

adjective

ˈmir 

superlative merest

1

: being nothing more than

a mere mortal

a mere hint of spice

2

: having no admixture (see admixture sense 2) : pure

3

obsolete : being nothing less than : absolute

mere

2 of 4

noun (1)

chiefly British

: an expanse of standing (see standing entry 1 sense 2) water : lake, pool

had seen several boats on an inland mere

—Yale Review

mere

3 of 4

noun (2)

: boundary

also : landmark

-mere

4 of 4

noun combining form

: part : segment

metamere

Synonyms

Adjective

• bare
• very

Noun (1)

• billabong [Australian]
• pool
• puddle
• stank [British dialect]
• well

Examples of mere in a Sentence

Adjective

the mere idea of your traveling alone to Europe is ridiculous

Noun (1)

one of the most scenic meres in England's Lake District

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Long been considered rare, with a mere 50 individuals documented globally between 1976 and 2010, recent revelations paint a picture of a creature more widespread and common than previously imagined. —Melissa Cristina Marquez, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024

Questions of craft must have been seen as a mere distraction from the message of Reagan. —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2024

The best facial cleansing brushes promise to deep-clean the pores in a way that mere fingers simply cannot. —Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2024

United reported a mere $3.2 billion on its other operating line that came primarily on payments to its frequent flyer program. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 8 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin merus; akin to Old English āmerian to purify and perhaps to Greek marmairein to sparkle — more at morn

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English — more at marine

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English mǣre; akin to Old Norse landamæri borderland

Noun combining form

French -mère, from Greek meros part — more at merit entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mere

1 of 2 noun

ˈmi(ə)r 

: a sheet of still water : pool

mere

2 of 2 adjective

superlative merest

: being only this and nothing else : nothing more than

a mere whisper

a mere child

merely adverb

Etymology

Noun

Old English mere "lake, pool"

Adjective

Middle English mere "nothing more or less than," from Latin merus "pure"