squarely

adverb

square·​ly ˈskwer-lē 

1

: in a straightforward or honest manner

we must squarely face the issue

2

a

: exactly, precisely

squarely in the middle

b

: so as to make solid contact

hit the ball squarely

feet squarely planted

3

: in a square form or manner : so as to be square

a squarely cut dress

4

: in a plain or unequivocal manner

The responsibility lies squarely with us.

align ourselves squarely with our allies

Synonyms of squarely

• right
• just

Examples of squarely in a Sentence

We must face these problems squarely.

It's time to deal squarely with the facts.

literature that is squarely in the American tradition

Their marketing campaign is aimed squarely at adolescents.

The dart hit the board squarely in the middle.

Look me squarely in the eye and tell me you're not lying.

He hit the ball squarely.

Her feet were squarely planted.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even more important is that Los Angeles improved to 8-5, and are still squarely in the playoff conversation. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025

Generations went by between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, a massive movie event that took its cues squarely from A New Hope for its adventurous tone, its underdog story, and its characters. —Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Nov. 2025

Your attention is squarely upon your ambitions and professional life. —Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025

Faced with rising costs, American singles are putting money squarely at the forefront of their dating lives. —Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for squarely

• unfairly
• barely
• fairly
• rarely

Kids Definition

squarely

adverb

square·​ly

1

: in a plain or honest manner

we must squarely face the problem

2

a

: exactly sense 1a, precisely

squarely in the middle

b

: so as to make solid contact

hit the ball squarely

3

: in a square form or manner : so as to be square

a squarely cut dress