simply

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   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 […].

2. 2
   adv

   Merely; solely.

   I was simply asking a question.

3. 3
   adv

   absolutely, positively.

   That was a simply wonderful dessert.

4. 4
   adv

   Frankly.

   Simply, he just fired you.

5. 5
   adv

   and nothing more

6. 6
   adv

   absolutely

7. 7
   adv

   in a simple manner

8. 8
   adv

   In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.

Etymology

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