English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

adv Uncommon

squarely

SKWEH-uh-lee

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

adv

1

Directly and firmly, without ambiguity.

"The blame lies squarely with management."

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

2

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

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Comparative: more squarely
Superlative: most squarely

Test yourself on “squarely” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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

See the full Class of 1557 →

Synonyms

square forthright foursquare forthrightly straightforwardly

Related words

even round simply straight directly square frank honest

Rhymes for squarely

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

See all rhymes for squarely →

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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even round simply straight directly square frank honest