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Purely vs Absolutely - What's the difference?

purely | absolutely | Synonyms |

As adverbs the difference between purely and absolutely

is that purely is wholly; really, completely while absolutely is in an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly.

As an interjection absolutely is

yes; certainly; expression indicating strong agreement.

purely

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • * 1962 , , Flush Times :
  • I am fascinated by the entire scene, I purely am.
  • Solely; exclusively; merely, simply.
  • * 2005 , Owen Bowcott, The Guardian , 8 Apr 2005:
  • The IRA should "lead by example" and "unilaterally" abandon paramilitary violence and adopt a purely political strategy, a leading Sinn Féin MP urged yesterday.
  • * 2007 , ‘(Helen Brooks)’, His Christmas Bride :
  • *:"But this meal tonight is not a date, not in the traditional sense. It's purely platonic, I assure you."
  • Chastely, innocently; in a sinless manner, without fault.
  • * 1623 , (William Shakespeare), Troilus and Cressida , First Folio, IV.7:
  • faith and troth, / Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing: / Bids thee with most diuine integritie, / From heart of very heart, great Hector welcome.
  • * 1823 , (Samuel Taylor Coleridge), Table Talk :
  • By some means or other the water flows purely , and separated from the filth, in a deeper and narrower course on one side of the rock, and the refuse of the dirt and troubled water goes off on the other in a broader current [...].
    English manner adverbs English degree adverbs English focus adverbs

    absolutely

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly.
  • Independently; viewed without relation to other things or factors.
  • (grammar) In a manner that does not take an object.
  • Usage notes

    * Absolutely'' is not to be confused with intensives such as ''very'' or ''indeed , as it is an unconditional term.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • Yes; certainly; expression indicating strong agreement.
  • Usage notes

    * Some commentators, especially in England, criticise the interjectional use as having no useful meaning beyond that of yes;, page 3 however, this assumes that emphasis is useless, which, pragmatically speaking, it isn’t.

    References

    See also

    * absitively posolutely English degree adverbs