merely

柯林斯词典

1. ADV You use merely to emphasize that something is only what you say and not better, more important, or more exciting. 只不过 (用来强调某事物不是很重要或很有价值)[强调]
Michael is now merely a good friend. 迈克尔现在只不过是一个好朋友而已。
Francis Watson was far from being merely a furniture expert. 弗兰西斯·沃森不仅仅是位家具专家。
2. ADV You use merely to emphasize that a particular amount or quantity is very small. 仅仅 (用来强调数量之少)[ADV amount] [强调]
The brain accounts for merely three percent of body weight. 大脑仅占体重的3％。
3. PHRASE You use not merely before the less important of two contrasting statements, as a way of emphasizing the more important statement. 不仅仅[强调]
The team needs players who want to play for Canada, not merely any country that will have them. 这个队需要愿意为加拿大比赛的运动员，而不仅仅是愿意为任何一个雇用他们的国家去比赛的运动员。

The minister's speech had merely fogged the issue .
He called the new building unoriginal and said that it merely aped the classical traditions .
She didn't reply - she merely smiled that insinuating smile .
Of his origins he said very little, merely mentioning in parenthesis that his background was poor .
Patriarchy has not disappeared - it has merely changed form .