Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - merely

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. You use merely to emphasize that something is only what you say and not better, more important, or more exciting. Michael is now merely a good friend... They are offering merely technical assistance. = just, simply ADV: ADV with cl/group, ADV before v c darkgreen]emphasis 2. You use merely to emphasize that a particular amount or quantity is very small. The brain accounts for merely three per cent of body weight. = only ADV: ADV amount c darkgreen]emphasis 3. You use not merely before the less important of two contrasting statements, as a way of emphasizing the more important statement. The team needs players who want to play cricket for England, not merely any country that will have them... PHRASE: PHR with cl/group, PHR before v c darkgreen]emphasis