purely

adverb

pure·​ly ˈpyu̇r-lē 

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

3

: simply, merely

read purely for relaxation

4

: in a chaste or innocent manner

Synonyms

• innocently
• properly
• chastely
• morally

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

Any prices or levels shown are either historical or purely indicative. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 7 July 2025

Often, these employees view their job performance purely through the lens of their technical skills, and historically, so have their employers. —Kempton Presley, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

From purely fun picks like a Bluey bubble maker that doubles as a karaoke machine to adorable, educational faves like Melissa & Doug’s Cutting Fruit Set, these deals start at just $9. —Clint Davis, People.com, 7 July 2025

Politics aside, purely from a scientific point of view, this is madness. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 6 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for purely

• demurely
• maturely
• obscurely
• securely
• insecurely
• prematurely
• surely

Kids 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