1
: in a sure manner:
a
archaic
: without danger or risk of injury or loss : safely
b(1)
: with assurance : confidently
answered quickly and surely
(2)
: without doubt : certainly
They will surely be heard from in the future.—
R. J. Lifton
R. J. Lifton
Sure vs. Surely: Usage Guide
Sure and surely are both used as simple intensives. Sure is informal and typically used when the speaker or writer expects to be agreed with.
She sure knew how to make me laugh.
That sure was fun.
Surely can occur in formal contexts and is used whether or not agreement is expected.
Surely you jest.
It is often applied when someone is making an effort to persuade.
a book surely worth anyone's time
Examples of surely in a Sentence
She answered quickly and surely.
He will surely be missed.
This is surely the best dessert you have ever made.
Surely you must admit that it was a good decision.
Recent Examples on the Web
She surely was also exposed to Madame Charlotte Mentelle’s feminist beliefs and abolitionist leanings.
—Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Also inexplicable is the movie’s setting circa the dawn of COVID, where masks and quarantine come into play — though for many out there, that was surely a time when relapses were around the bend, the temptation of a bender without judgment and out of view very easily had.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
There surely is something to admire in Anthropic’s decision to hold the line against the Defense Department.
—Olivier Sylvain, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Many fans would have surely nodded along with what Farke was saying.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for surely
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Also inexplicable is the movie’s setting circa the dawn of COVID, where masks and quarantine come into play — though for many out there, that was surely a time when relapses were around the bend, the temptation of a bender without judgment and out of view very easily had.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
There surely is something to admire in Anthropic’s decision to hold the line against the Defense Department.
—Olivier Sylvain, Fortune, 16 May 2026
Many fans would have surely nodded along with what Farke was saying.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for surely
Cite this Entry
“Surely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surely. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
surely
adverb
sure·ly
ˈshu̇(ə)r-lē 
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