- used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc. somebody/something is
- It took her a mere 20 minutes to win.
- A mere 2 per cent of their budget has been spent on publicity.
- He seemed so young, a mere boy.
- You've got the job. The interview will be a mere formality.
- used when you are saying that the fact that a particular thing is present in a situation is enough to have an influence on that situation
- His mere presence (= just the fact that he was there) made her feel afraid.
- The mere fact that they were prepared to talk was encouraging.
- The mere thought of eating made him feel sick.
- The merest (= the slightest) hint of smoke is enough to make her feel ill.
Word Originadjective late Middle English (in the senses ‘pure’ and ‘sheer, downright’): from Latin merus ‘undiluted’.
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mere