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
But any actual emotional resonance or narrative coherence that All’s Fair manages along the way is purely incidental.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Back in 2020, when bitcoin traded around $10,000, investors saw it as purely speculative, Dixit said, who previously led investor relations at Block.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
The third touchdown is still the most telling, deriving purely from a relationship between quarterback and receiver.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Our International Space Station work also demonstrates the relevance of social science research for solving all kinds of problems – even ones that seem to be purely technical, like living in space.
—Justin St. P. Walsh, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purely
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Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Back in 2020, when bitcoin traded around $10,000, investors saw it as purely speculative, Dixit said, who previously led investor relations at Block.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
The third touchdown is still the most telling, deriving purely from a relationship between quarterback and receiver.
—Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Our International Space Station work also demonstrates the relevance of social science research for solving all kinds of problems – even ones that seem to be purely technical, like living in space.
—Justin St. P. Walsh, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 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 10 Nov. 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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