Learner's definition of MERELY
: only, just —
used to say that someone or something is small, unimportant, etc.仅仅；只不过 -
This is merely a minor delay.只不过拖延了一点点。
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They were merely children when their father died.父亲去世的时候他们还只是孩子。
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Was it merely a coincidence?这难道只是巧合吗？
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It was merely a suggestion.不过是建议一下而已。
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used to describe the only reason for something or the only effect of something无非是…，不过是…（指某事的原因或影响） -
She got the job merely because her father owns the company. [=the only reason she got the job was because her father owns the company]她能得到这份工作无非是因为她老爸是公司老板。
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Your essay merely hints at the real problem.你的文章只是暗示了一下真正的问题。
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You shouldn't blame her. She was merely following orders. [=she was following orders and not doing anything more than that]你不应该指责她，她不过是服从命令而已。
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I'm not criticizing you. I'm merely suggesting that we try a new approach.我不过是建议我们尝试一种新方法，并不是批评你。
not merely
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used to say that one thing is true and that another thing is also true不仅…而且…