adv
plainly
PLAYN-lee
adv
1
Clearly and obviously.
"She was plainly upset by the news."
"He plainly didn't want to be there."
2
In a simple, direct manner.
"He spoke plainly about the company's financial troubles."
How to Use Plainly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishClearly, obviously, or in a simple and direct way.
Common pairings
quite plainly
speak plainly
plainly visible
Word Forms
plainlier comparative, more plainly comparative, plainliest superlative, most plainly superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “plainly”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ upset by the news.
Etymology
From Middle English pleinly, from "plain" plus the adverb suffix "-ly."