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mere‧ly S2 W2
1 used to emphasize how small or unimportant something or someone is [= only]: 
He's merely a boy - you can't expect him to understand.
He's merely a boy - you can't expect him to understand.2 used to emphasize that nothing more than what you say is involved [= just]: We're merely good friends. He merely shrugged and walked away.
We're merely good friends.He merely shrugged and walked away.3 used before the less important of two ideas in a sentence to emphasize the more important idea : It's not merely a matter of cost, but whether she's old enough to go on holiday alone. It's important to write these goals down, rather than merely think about them.
not merely/rather than merely
It's not merely a matter of cost, but whether she's old enough to go on holiday alone.It's important to write these goals down, rather than merely think about them.
