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
Synonyms
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 resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
—
Dan Morse, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Its purpose is purely artistic, aiming to entertain and engage with the YouTube community.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
The test was purely based on aesthetics: taste and smell.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
Ohtani knew nothing of the fraud or gambling payments and was purely a victim, Estrada said, adding that investigators reviewed electronic communications between Ohtani and Mizuhara, and none included discussions about gambling or authorization to access Ohtani’s bank account.
—Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
That means the remaining 40 percent will be purely powered by gasoline, with all the internal-combustion music and excitement that comes with it.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
And while much of that eager anticipation is purely for the celestial light show that will be on display, there's an academic reason as well.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Based purely on the album artwork, the project appears to be called Black Yacht Rock Vol.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
The results of this commitment are extraordinary, in terms both purely pictorial and urban-anthropological.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Dan Morse, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
Its purpose is purely artistic, aiming to entertain and engage with the YouTube community.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024
The test was purely based on aesthetics: taste and smell.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Apr. 2024
Ohtani knew nothing of the fraud or gambling payments and was purely a victim, Estrada said, adding that investigators reviewed electronic communications between Ohtani and Mizuhara, and none included discussions about gambling or authorization to access Ohtani’s bank account.
—Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
That means the remaining 40 percent will be purely powered by gasoline, with all the internal-combustion music and excitement that comes with it.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
And while much of that eager anticipation is purely for the celestial light show that will be on display, there's an academic reason as well.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Based purely on the album artwork, the project appears to be called Black Yacht Rock Vol.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
The results of this commitment are extraordinary, in terms both purely pictorial and urban-anthropological.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near purely
Cite this Entry
“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purely. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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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