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
Even The Traitors maker Studio Lambert, which could surely turnover enough cash purely through its traditional TV business, is in early-stage development on formats that can crack the platform.
—
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
And within India’s Bengali community, particularly in its cultural epicenter of West Bengal, Durga Puja has evolved beyond a purely religious celebration into one of the region’s most deliberate forms of public discourse and socio-political commentary.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Some were in it purely for the thrill of it all, loving the auditory fantasy component and anonymity.
—Nicki J. Monti, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Representing Chiles at the Supreme Court Tuesday, lawyer James Campbell will tell the Justices that what Chiles does is purely talk therapy, and thus that it is protected by the Constitution's free speech guarantee.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purely
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025
And within India’s Bengali community, particularly in its cultural epicenter of West Bengal, Durga Puja has evolved beyond a purely religious celebration into one of the region’s most deliberate forms of public discourse and socio-political commentary.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Some were in it purely for the thrill of it all, loving the auditory fantasy component and anonymity.
—Nicki J. Monti, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Representing Chiles at the Supreme Court Tuesday, lawyer James Campbell will tell the Justices that what Chiles does is purely talk therapy, and thus that it is protected by the Constitution's free speech guarantee.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 7 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 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share