simply

adverb

sim·​ply ˈsim-plē 

for sense 1 also -pə-lē

1

a

: without ambiguity : clearly

b

: without embellishment : plainly

c

: directly, candidly

2

a

: solely, merely

eats simply to keep alive

simply cleaned it up and went to bed

—Garrison Keillor

b

: really, literally

the concert was simply marvelous

—often used as an intensive

… simply crawling with geniuses.

—F. Scott Fitzgerald

Synonyms of simply

• only
• just
• purely
• solely
• exclusively

Examples of simply in a Sentence

Simply add water to the mix and stir.

Simply click on the computer icon and follow the directions.

If he continues to bother you, simply ignore him.

You can order new checks simply by calling or going online.

It is simply a matter of time before something goes wrong.

The instructions are simply written.

He lived simply on the farm.

The diner is called simply “Joe's.”

“Sorry, I can't help you,” he said simply.

The problem, put simply, is money.

Recent Examples on the Web

The slopverse simply expands that situation—and massively, down to every utterance. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 26 Nov. 2025

Fill it with hot water and some dish dish soap and simply submerge the grater in the sudsy water. —Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 26 Nov. 2025

And that’s simply not the case; the far side is something like ~30% more heavily cratered than the near side, a tremendous difference that cannot be quantitatively explained by this gravitational deflection effect. —Big Think, 26 Nov. 2025

After King Charles, 77, stripped his younger brother of all royal titles and honors, it was announced that the former Duke of York would be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. —Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing simply

• simply connected
• simply ordered

Rhymes for simply

• limply

Kids Definition

simply

adverb

sim·​ply ˈsim-plē 

1

a

: in a clear manner

stated the directions simply

b

: in a plain manner

simply dressed

c

: in a direct manner : candidly

told the story as simply as a child would

2

a

: for nothing more than

eats simply to keep alive

b

: without any question : truly

simply marvelous