Dictionary

simply en · ADV

Pronunciation

/ˈsəmpli/ (New-Zealand)
(California) audio
/ˈsɪmpli/ (Australia, Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
(Texas) audio

Etymology

From Middle English symply, symplely; equivalent to simple + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.

Meanings

In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
Plainly; without art or subtlety
- ‘No,’ said Stephen simply. 1930, Margaret Ayer Barnes, Years of Grace, Part II, Chapter IV, page 198:
Foolishly; stupidly.
- Mrs. Thorold had told her sons that a young lady was visiting at the house, whose history she had given them in short hand, describing her as a dependent on the late Mrs. Willoughby, whom her son had very simply intended to marry at Alvestone […]. 1791, Charlotte Smith, Celestina, Broadview, published 2004, page 179:
(focus) Merely; solely.
- A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails.[…]This set-up solves several problems […]. Stopping high-speed trains wastes energy and time, so why not simply slow them down enough for a moving platform to pull alongside? 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
- Rather than scanning a boarding pass or handing over a passport, you simply stare into a camera and you’re verified. 2019 May 21, Dylan Curran, “Facial recognition will soon be everywhere. Are we prepared?”, in The Guardian:
- I was simply asking a question.
(qualifier:degree) absolutely, positively.
- This type of comportment simply won't be tolerated.
- That was a simply wonderful dessert.
- What about the way you love me? / And the way you squeeze me? / Simply beautiful 1972, Al Green, “Simply Beautiful”:
Frankly.
- Simply, he just fired you.
- It was, quite simply, the best there was in stock.

Forms

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
most simply	Degree=Sup		lexicographic
more simply	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic

Translations (53)

sl preprosto (in a simple manner) · ru про́сто (in a simple manner) · eo simple (in a simple manner) · fr simplement (in a simple manner) · es sencillamente (in a simple manner) · sv helt enkelt (in a simple manner) · hu csak (merely, solely) · la sōlum (merely, solely) · sh naprosto (in a simple manner) · la modo (merely, solely) · ml ലളിതമായി (in a simple manner) · da slet og ret (in a simple manner) · fi vain (merely, solely) · no rett og slett (in a simple manner) · gl simplemente (in a simple manner) · ar بِكُلّ بَسَاطَة (in a simple manner) · nb simpelthen (in a simple manner) · grc ἁπλῶς (in a simple manner) · no ganske enkelt (in a simple manner) · hu mindössze (merely, solely) · ru только (merely, solely) · es simplemente (in a simple manner) · ru попросту (merely, solely) · nrf sîmpliément (in a simple manner) · ca simplement (in a simple manner) · pdt blooss (merely, solely) · pl po prostu (merely, solely) · no intet mindre enn (in a simple manner) · cs jednoduše (in a simple manner) · hu csupán (merely, solely) · fi yksinkertaisesti (in a simple manner) · ta வெறுமனே (in a simple manner) · ja 単に (in a simple manner) · is einfaldlega (in a simple manner) · ru просто (merely, solely) · la simpliciter (in a simple manner) · ta சும்மா (merely, solely) · ca senzillament (in a simple manner) · hu egyszerűen (in a simple manner) · it in parole povere (in a simple manner) · bg просто (in a simple manner) · ta சும்மா (in a simple manner) · es simplemente (merely, solely) · pt simplesmente (in a simple manner) · eu apalki (in a simple manner) · bg само (merely, solely) · tr sadece (merely, solely) · lt tiesiog (in a simple manner) · de einfach (in a simple manner) · it semplicemente (in a simple manner) · tr basitçe (in a simple manner) · pl po prostu (in a simple manner) · el απλά (in a simple manner)

simply en · ADV

Pronunciation

Etymology

Meanings

Forms

Antonyms

Deriveds

Relateds

Synonyms

Translations (53)