squarely
square·ly/ˈskwɛɹ.li/adverb
squarely is spelled S-Q-U-A-R-E-L-Y: 8 letters and 2 syllables (square·ly). It appears 1.4 times per million words in written English, the 23,536th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adverb, squarely means “In the shape of a square; at right angles” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in squarely?
| Letters | 8: S-Q-U-A-R-E-L-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: square·ly |
| In writing | 1.4 times per million words; the 23,536th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is squarely?
Squarely appears 1.4 times per million words in written English, the 23,536th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce squarely?
- UK /ˈskwɛə(ɹ).li/
- US /ˈskwɛɹ.li/
- Australia /ˈskweː.li/
Squarely has 2 syllables, split square·ly in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-squarely.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-squarely.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with squarely?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as squarely from its last stressed vowel (/ɛɹli/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of squarely
- more squarely comparative
- most squarely superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does squarely mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adverb
- 1
In the shape of a square; at right angles.
- 2
Firmly and solidly.
- 3
In a direct, straightforward and honest manner.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Squarely in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | d'équerre, à l'équerre, carrément , solidement, fermement |
| German | quadratisch, rechteckig , fest, felsenfest , direkt |
| Spanish | en forma de cuadrado, cuadradamente , sólidamente , rectamente |
| Portuguese | firmemente, solidamente |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does squarely come from?
From square + -ly. First use appears c. 1557 in the writings of Robert Recorde.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).