purely

adverb

pure·​ly ˈpyu̇r-lē 

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

3

: simply, merely

read purely for relaxation

4

: in a chaste or innocent manner

Synonyms

• chastely
• innocently
• modestly
• morally
• righteously
• virtuously

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

On the other hand, is the Olympic spirit lost if athletes are competing for money, rather than for purely the glory of representing their country? —Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2024

And as various Italian villages continue to claim the portrait’s backdrop, others maintain that Da Vinci painted the mountainside scenery purely from his imagination. —Lily Carey, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Kids 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