Surely - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Surely is an adverb used to express confidence or certainty in a statement. It often emphasizes the speaker’s belief that something is true or will happen as expected.
Definition:
Without doubt; confidently or certainly.
Synonyms:
certainly, undoubtedly, definitely, unquestionably
Part of Speech:
adverb
Antonyms:
doubtfully, uncertainly
Common Collocations:
surely believe, surely know, surely understand, surely agree
Derivatives:
sure, sureness
Usage Tips:
Use "surely" to express confidence or certainty, often for emphasis in statements or questions.
Common Phrases:
surely not, surely enough, slow but surely
Etymology:
Derived from Old English "sēarlic," meaning secure or certain; evolved to modern "surely."
Examples:
- 1. She will surely arrive on time for the meeting.
- 2. Surely you remember our conversation from yesterday?
- 3. He worked slowly but surely to finish the project.
- 4. They must surely know the answer by now.