squarely

adverb

square·​ly ˈskwer-lē How to pronounce squarely (audio)
1
: in a straightforward or honest manner
we must squarely face the issue
2
a
: exactly, precisely
squarely in the middle
b
: so as to make solid contact
hit the ball squarely
feet squarely planted
3
: in a square form or manner : so as to be square
a squarely cut dress
4
: in a plain or unequivocal manner
the responsibility lies squarely with us
align ourselves squarely with our allies

Examples of squarely in a Sentence

We must face these problems squarely. It's time to deal squarely with the facts. literature that is squarely in the American tradition Their marketing campaign is aimed squarely at adolescents. The dart hit the board squarely in the middle. Look me squarely in the eye and tell me you're not lying. He hit the ball squarely. Her feet were squarely planted.
Recent Examples on the Web Global military spending hits record $2.2 trillion amid multiple wars NATO, meanwhile, began its biggest overhaul since the Cold War, drawing up new battle plans that are more squarely focused on deterring Russia and defending every inch of NATO territory from day one should Moscow try anything. Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 These photos required me to look squarely at the camera, then directly to the left, right, and half measures in-between, so every inch of my face and neck were captured. Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 6 Mar. 2024 The conjecture brought tools from analysis (an advanced form of calculus) squarely into topology. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 With cupid’s aim squarely on your wallets, navigating the floral aisle this time of year can be a maze of costs and choices. Annette Choi, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024 Going into the night, Barbie and Oppenheimer led the film field with four nominations each, while Succession’s five nods put it squarely ahead of other small-screen favorites, including The Bear (which earned four) Barry (three), Beef (three), and The Crown (two). Vogue, 25 Feb. 2024 The Central Park Zoo put the blame squarely on the person who cut open Flaco’s enclosure. Cedar Attanasio, Fortune, 25 Feb. 2024 The demolition is, either way, devastating and premature, but these buildings, squarely unadorned and unlovely, were never meant to last forever — De Lucchi estimates the average lifespan of such modern concrete structures at just 40 years. Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Feb. 2024 The federal complaint places the blame squarely on the Marine Corps for failing to protect the woman from abuse. Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squarely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of squarely was in 1564

Dictionary Entries Near squarely

Cite this Entry

“Squarely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squarely. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

squarely

adverb
square·​ly
1
: in a plain or honest manner
we must squarely face the problem
2
a
: exactly sense 1a, precisely
squarely in the middle
b
: so as to make solid contact
hit the ball squarely
3
: in a square form or manner : so as to be square
a squarely cut dress

More from Merriam-Webster on squarely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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