plainly meaning
plainly :
clearly, simply
adverb
▪ She spoke plainly to the class.
▪ She spoke clearly to the class.
▪ The sign was plainly visible.
▪ The sign was clearly visible.
paraphrasing
▪ clearly – in a way that is easy to see or understand
▪ simply – without anything extra
▪ obviously – in a way that is easy to see or understand
▪ directly – in a straightforward way
Pronunciation
plainly [ˈpleɪn.li]
The stress is on 'plain' and sounds like 'plain-lee'.
Common phrases and grammar about plainly
plainly - Common meaning
adverb
clearly, simply
Part of Speech Changes for "plainly"
▪ plain (adjective) – clear or simple
▪ plainness (noun) – the quality of being clear or simple
Common Expressions with "plainly"
▪ speak plainly – talk clearly
▪ plainly visible – easy to see
▪ plainly stated – clearly said
▪ plainly obvious – very clear to see
Important examples of plainly in TOEIC
Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test
In TOEIC vocabulary questions, plainly often means to do something clearly or simply.
Example of a confusing word: barely (only just)
Grammar examples from the TOEIC test
Plainly is used as an adverb to describe how something is done, often appearing in grammar questions to modify verbs.
plainly
Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC
speak plainly
'talk clearly', used when someone is being direct.
plainly put
means 'said in a simple way', used to make something easy to understand.
Differences between similar words and plainly
plainly
,
clearly
differences
Plainly and clearly both mean easy to understand, but plainly often suggests simplicity, while clearly emphasizes visibility or understanding.
Words with the same origin as plainly
The origin of plainly
The word plainly comes from the Old French 'plain', meaning clear or simple.
Word structure
It has the root plain (clear) and suffix ly (adverb), meaning 'in a clear way'.
Words with the same origin
The root of plainly is plain (clear). Words with the same root include explain (to make clear).
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inarticulate
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unclear, not able to speak well
adjective ┃
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