superlative merest
1
: being nothing more than
a mere mortal
a mere hint of spice
2
: having no admixture (see admixture sense 2) : pure
3
obsolete
: being nothing less than : absolute
chiefly British
: an expanse of standing (see standing entry 1 sense 2) water : lake, pool
… had seen several boats on an inland mere …—
Yale Review
Yale Review
: part : segment
metamere
Examples of mere in a Sentence
Adjective
the mere idea of your traveling alone to Europe is ridiculous
Noun (1)
one of the most scenic meres in England's Lake District
Recent Examples on the Web
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
When the connection flickers back — sometimes for a mere 30 seconds — the conversations turn to life and death.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
For Coiro, the key was treating Italy not as a mere backdrop but an organic extension of the characters’ impulses and feelings — and as a character itself.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2026
The layoffs, we’re told, are targeted and strategic, and not a mere cost-cutting exercise.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
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Adjective
Through flashbacks and leaps ahead in time, fragmentation and fantasy scenes, the film simulates complexity while endowing its characters with mere crumbs of knowledge and experience.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
When the connection flickers back — sometimes for a mere 30 seconds — the conversations turn to life and death.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
For Coiro, the key was treating Italy not as a mere backdrop but an organic extension of the characters’ impulses and feelings — and as a character itself.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2026
The layoffs, we’re told, are targeted and strategic, and not a mere cost-cutting exercise.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mere
Cite this Entry
“Mere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mere. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mere
2 of 2 adjective
superlative merest
: being only this and nothing else : nothing more than
a mere whisper
a mere child
merely
adverb
Etymology
Noun
Old English mere "lake, pool"
Adjective
Middle English mere "nothing more or less than," from Latin merus "pure"
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