simply

/ˈsɪmpli/

//ˈsɪmpli// adv

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"simply" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“simply” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #887 in English word frequency and used as an adverb.

#887
frequency rank, English
6
letters
10
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

simply vs supply
67% similar
simply vs skimpy
67% similar
simply vs singly
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for simply
PropertyValue
Headwordsimply
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ˈsɪmpli/
Letters6
Frequency rank#887
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “simply” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). simply lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for simply is 6 letters long, classified as an adverb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsɪmpli/. Corpus data places it at rank #887 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for simply, with forms such as "ismply", "simlpy", and "simmply". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 11 confusable-pair relationships, "supply", "skimpy", "singly", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English symply, symplely; equivalent to simple + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology. The correct English form is simply, spelled S-I-M-P-L-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
  2. 2
    Plainly; without art or subtlety
  3. 3
    Foolishly; stupidly.
  4. 4
    Merely; solely.
  5. 5
    absolutely, positively.
  6. 6
    Frankly.

Etymology

From Middle English symply, symplely; equivalent to simple + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology.

This word in other languages

simplemente(Español)simplement(Français)einfach(Deutsch)simplesmente(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ismply,simlpy,simmply,simplly,simplyy,simpply,simpyl,sipmly,smiply,ssimply

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of simply - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ismply2simlpy2simmply1simplly1simplyy1simpply1simpyl2sipmly2
Edit distance from "simply"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "simply"?
"simply" is spelled S-I-M-P-L-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsɪmpli/.
What does "simply" mean?
As an adverb, "simply" means: In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
What words are commonly confused with "simply"?
"simply" is commonly confused with "supply", "skimpy", "singly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "simply"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "simply" is /ˈsɪmpli/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "simply"?
From Middle English symply, symplely; equivalent to simple + -ly, with *-lely simplified to -ly by haplology. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “simply”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-I-M-P-L-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsɪmpli/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “supply” - see the side-by-side comparison. simply vs supply
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list