surely

adverb

sure·​ly ˈshu̇r-lē How to pronounce surely (audio)
ˈshər-,
 especially Southern  ˈshȯr-
1
: in a sure manner:
a
archaic : without danger or risk of injury or loss : safely
b(1)
: with assurance : confidently
answered quickly and surely
(2)
: without doubt : certainly
they will surely be heard from in the futureR. J. Lifton
2
: indeed, really
often used as an intensive
you surely don't believe that
Sure vs. Surely: Usage Guide

Most commentators consider the adverb sure to be something less than completely standard; surely is usually recommended as a substitute. Our current evidence shows, however, that sure and surely have become differentiated in use. Sure is used in much more informal contexts than surely. It is used as a simple intensive

I can never know how much I bored her, but, be certain, she sure amused me Norman Mailer

and, because it connotes strong affirmation, it is used when the speaker or writer expects to be agreed with.

it's a moot point whether politicians are less venal than in Twain's day. But they're sure as the devil more intrusive Alan Abelson
he sure gets them to play D. S. Looney

Surely, like sure, is used as a simple intensive

I surely don't want to leave the impression that I had an unhappy childhood E. C. Welsh

but it occurs in more formal contexts than sure. Unlike sure it may be used neutrally—the reader or hearer may or may not agree

it would surely be possible, within a few years, to program a computer to construct a grammar Noam Chomsky

and it is often used when the writer is trying to persuade.

surely a book on the avant-garde cannot be so conventional Karl Shapiro

Examples of surely in a Sentence

She answered quickly and surely. He will surely be missed. This is surely the best dessert you have ever made. Surely you must admit that it was a good decision.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And if anyone was naive enough to imagine the U.S.-led tournament in 2026 would be free of such political baggage, then surely the increasingly public proximity of the Trump-Infantino relationship has dispelled those illusions. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 June 2025 The blockbuster has now accrued a total of 18 weeks ruling the list — a number that will surely climb again at the end of 2025. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025 At Bonwit, Edna surely works for Gene Moore, the window artist who came to work for Bonwit in 1945. John Birdsall june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025 If Newsom’s podcast supplied the most humiliating audio of the new Trump era, the most humiliating image was surely a photo of Whitmer physically hiding in the Oval Office as Trump signed orders to investigate a pair of first-term officials who went on to criticize him. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for surely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of surely was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Surely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surely. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

surely

adverb
sure·​ly ˈshu̇(ə)r-lē How to pronounce surely (audio)
1
a
: with confidence
answered quickly and surely
b
: without doubt : certainly
they will surely be heard from again
2
: beyond question : truly
I surely am tired this afternoon

More from Merriam-Webster on surely

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