merely a matter of time, merely a drop in the bucket, merely scratching the surface

Formal and Informal Expressions of merely

In different contexts, you can replace 'merely' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'only, solely' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'just, simply' is a commonplace synonym.

merely: Explore its Definition & Usage

merely Definition

just; only.

Using merely: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "merely" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
I'm merely asking for your opinion.
Example
The book is not merely a collection of poems but also includes essays and stories.
Example
He was merely trying to help.
Example
It's not merely a question of cost.

merely Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for merely

Phrases with merely

merely a matter of time
something that is certain to happen but has not happened yet
Example
It's merely a matter of time before we find out the truth.
merely a drop in the bucket
a very small or insignificant amount compared to what is needed or required
Example
The amount of money we raised is merely a drop in the bucket compared to what we need.
merely scratching the surface
to only deal with or understand a very small part of a subject or problem
Example
We've only scratched the surface of the problem. There's still a lot more to be done.

Origins of merely

from Old English 'ge-mǣrelic', meaning 'boundary, limit'

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Summary: merely in Brief

The term 'merely' [ˈmɪrli] means 'just' or 'only'. It is used to emphasize that something is not more than what it appears to be, as in 'I'm merely asking for your opinion.' 'Merely' can be used in phrases such as 'merely a matter of time,' which means something is certain to happen but has not happened yet.