adv Uncommon

squarely

SKWEH-uh-lee

Squarely (adv) means Directly and firmly, without ambiguity. Example: “The blame lies squarely with management.”

adv

Directly and firmly, without ambiguity.

"The blame lies squarely with management."

"He looked her squarely in the eye and admitted the truth."

At a right angle; in the shape of a square.

"The picture frame was hung squarely on the wall."

How to use squarely

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDirectly and firmly, without hedging — or literally, at right angles.

Common pairings

squarely at fault land squarely look someone squarely in the eye

Word forms

more squarely comparative, most squarely superlative

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The blame lies _____ with management.

Etymology

From square + -ly, first recorded in the writings of Robert Recorde around 1557.

· First attested 1557

Class of 1557 squarely joined the language around 1557.

rhythm

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Synonyms

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square forthright foursquare forthrightly straightforwardly

Related words

even simply directly square frank honest vocal circular

Rhymes for squarely

rely comely lonely timely lovely homely widely lively lately rarely barely likely

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Frequently asked questions

What does “squarely” mean?

The word “squarely” means directly and firmly, without ambiguity. In plain terms, directly and firmly, without hedging — or literally, at right angles.

How do you pronounce “squarely”?

“Squarely” is pronounced SKWEH-uh-lee (/ˈskwɛɹ.li/ in IPA).

How do you use “squarely” in a sentence?

Here is “squarely” used in a sentence: “The blame lies squarely with management.”

What part of speech is “squarely”?

“Squarely” is an adverb.

Where does the word “squarely” come from?

The word “squarely” dates back to around 1557. From square + -ly, first recorded in the writings of Robert Recorde around 1557.

Is “squarely” a common word?

“Squarely” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “squarely” have?

“Squarely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: directly and firmly, without ambiguity.

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