mere

/mɪə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [mˈɪr] /mɪr/ (ame, ipa) · [mˈɪr] /ˈmir/ (ame, mw)

mere — adjective

  • merepositive
  • merercomparative
  • merestsuperlative

1. placed before a noun to show that the thing mentioned is very small, slight, or

1.形容詞B2
釋義

placed before a noun to show that the thing mentioned is very small, slight, or not worth much attention.

例句

The repair took a mere ten minutes outside the station.

a mere + amount of time

Gabriela sold the old desk for a mere five hundred dollars.

a mere + amount of money

同義詞
  • only

    the neutral everyday choice for showing a small amount or limited status

  • just

    more conversational and often less formal than mere

  • slight

    describes small degree or size, rather than dismissing importance

反義詞
  • considerable

    shows that the amount or importance is large

  • substantial

    stresses that something is large enough to matter

文法句型

a mere + amount

a mere + number + plural noun

mere + noun

用法筆記

Usually comes before a noun phrase about amount, size, value, or status. Distinguish from sense 2, where one thought, fact, or mention by itself is enough to cause a reaction.

2. used before words like thought, fact, or mention to say that just this one thing

2.形容詞B2
釋義

used before words like thought, fact, or mention to say that just this one thing is enough to create a strong reaction or result.

例句

The mere thought of speaking on stage made Yan's hands shake.

the mere thought of + -ing

At the mere mention of snow, Trang began planning a trip.

at the mere mention of + noun

同義詞
  • just

    can express the same idea, but sounds more neutral and conversational

  • simply

    often works in paraphrase, but is less tied to the fixed noun patterns

文法句型

the mere thought of + noun/-ing

at the mere mention of + noun

the mere fact that + clause

the mere sight of + noun

用法筆記

Most often appears in patterns such as 'the mere thought of', 'at the mere mention of', and 'the mere fact that'. Unlike sense 1, it does not focus on small size or amount, but on one thing by itself being enough.

常見錯誤

❌The mere that he called changed my mood.
✅The mere fact that he called changed my mood.
💡after mere, this pattern needs a noun such as fact, thought, mention, or idea.

mere — noun