Surely

Pronunciation

• Homophones: Shirley (in some dialects)

Origin

sure + -ly

Full definition of surely

Adverb

1. Without fail.
   slowly but surely
2. Certainly, undoubtedly.
   Surely, you must be joking.
• 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder.
3. With confidence.
   His feet were planted surely on the ground.

Synonyms

• certainly, wis