1
: to the exclusion of all else
done solely for money
2
: without another : singly
went solely on her way
Examples of solely in a Sentence
His rank was based solely on merit.
You will be held solely responsible for any damage.
She did not write solely for money.
Recent Examples on the Web
And, regulators should not require a bank to close an account solely based on reputation risk, according to BPI.
—
Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
Our security procedures are based solely on legitimate safety concerns, and any attempt to politicize this reality is both dangerous and reckless.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The study, called TRIUMPH-4, didn’t solely focus on weight loss, meaning that other trials specifically designed for that outcome could produce different or higher results.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
As part of the newsroom, all April’s work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solely
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Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
Our security procedures are based solely on legitimate safety concerns, and any attempt to politicize this reality is both dangerous and reckless.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
The study, called TRIUMPH-4, didn’t solely focus on weight loss, meaning that other trials specifically designed for that outcome could produce different or higher results.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
As part of the newsroom, all April’s work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solely
Cite this Entry
“Solely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solely. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
solely
adverb
sole·ly
ˈsō(l)-lē 
2
: only entry 2 sense 1a
done solely for money
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