simply

adverb

sim·​ply ˈsim-plē How to pronounce simply (audio)
for sense 1 also -pə-lē
Synonyms of simply
1
a
: without ambiguity : clearly
b
: without embellishment : plainly
c
: directly, candidly
2
a
: solely, merely
eats simply to keep alive
simply cleaned it up and went to bed—Garrison Keillor
b
: really, literally
the concert was simply marvelous
—often used as an intensive
… simply crawling with geniuses.—F. Scott Fitzgerald

Synonyms of simply

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of simply in a Sentence

Simply add water to the mix and stir. Simply click on the computer icon and follow the directions. If he continues to bother you, simply ignore him. You can order new checks simply by calling or going online. It is simply a matter of time before something goes wrong. The instructions are simply written. He lived simply on the farm. The diner is called simply “Joe's.” “Sorry, I can't help you,” he said simply. The problem, put simply, is money.
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.
For Moore, opening her own shop was never simply about owning a business. — Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026 What ultimately doomed the plan was not simply opposition, but the breadth and speed of that opposition. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 Ad what makes this film special is that running is accessible in a way that free soloing El Cap simply isn’t. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 July 2026 The doctor treated her well, explained that the rash on her face wasn’t syphilis-related, but simply the result of years of harsh living, and gave her a cream for that. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for simply

Word History

First Known Use

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

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

Phrases Containing simply

Rhymes for simply

See All Rhymes for simply

Browse Nearby Words

Simplon Tunnel
simply
simply connected
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Simply.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simply. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

simply

adverb
sim·​ply ˈsim-plē How to pronounce simply (audio)
1
a
: in a clear manner
stated the directions simply
b
: in a plain manner
simply dressed
c
: in a direct manner : candidly
told the story as simply as a child would
2
a
: for nothing more than
eats simply to keep alive
b
: without any question : truly
simply marvelous

More from Merriam-Webster on simply

Nglish: Translation of simply for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All