simply

English

Etymology

simple +‎ -ly

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɪmpli/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adverb

simply (comparative more simply, superlative most simply)

1. (manner) In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone
2. (manner) Plainly; without art or subtlety; clearly; obviously; unquestionably.
3. (manner) Weakly; foolishly; stupidly.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Johnson to this entry?)

4. (focus) merely; solely.

   I was simply asking a question.

5. (degree) absolutely, positively.

   That was a simply wonderful dessert.

6. (speech act) Frankly.

   Simply, he just fired you.

Antonyms

• complexly

Related terms

• single

Translations

in a simple manner

• Basque: apalki (eu)
• Catalan: simplement (ca), senzillament (ca)
• Esperanto: simple (eo)
• Finnish: yksinkertaiseksi (fi)
• French: simplement (fr)
• German: einfach (de)
• Hungarian: egyszerűen (hu)

• Icelandic: einfaldlega (is)
• Italian: semplicemente (it)
• Lithuanian: tiesiog (lt)
• Norwegian: rett og slett (no), ganske enkelt (no), intet mindre enn (no)
• Russian: просто (ru) (prósto) 
• Spanish: simplemente (es), sencillamente (es)

Statistics

• Most common English words before 1923: chair · date · summer · #855: simply · terrible · Tom · author