English · Word Candidate

mere

/mɪə̯/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: merer · merest · meres · mering

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Just, only; no more than, pure and simple, neither more nor better than might be expected.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

chỉ, chỉ đơn giản; không hơn không kém

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

The mere thought of pineapple on pizza makes me want to throw up.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Boundary, limit; a boundary-marker; boundary-line.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

ranh giới, giới hạn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

The Troian Brute did first that Citie found, / And Hygate made the meare thereof by West, / And Ouert gate by North: that is the bound / Toward the land; two riuers bound the rest.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To decide upon the position of a boundary; to position it on a map.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Quyết định vị trí của một ranh giới và đặt nó trên bản đồ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

What chance is there of revising this example of case law to include an exception to the generally cited rule when an administrative boundary has been mered in the past to coincide with a private property boundary?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A body of standing water, inclusive of lakes, ponds, and pools, especially any broad and shallow one.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Một vùng nước đứng, bao gồm cả hồ, ao và bể

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

NounRegister: UK, literary

Examples

When making for the Brooke, the Falkoner doth espie On River, Plash, or Mere, where store of Fowle doth lye:

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “mere” mean?

Just, only; no more than, pure and simple, neither more nor better than might be expected.

Is “mere” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.