surely

comparative surelier · comparative more surely · superlative sureliest · superlative most surely

1. Without fail.

   slowly but surely

2. sentence adverbCertainly, undoubtedly.

   Surely, you must be joking.

   5 more examples

   You don’t suppose we're going to pay for you, surely?

   She’s surely got the letter by now.

   But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…].

   1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC

   The money feels good / And your life you like it well / But surely your time will come / As in heaven, as in hell

   1979, Paul Simonon, “The Guns of Brixton”, performed by The Clash

   Ted Striker: The stewardess said... both pilots?! Dr. Rumack: Can you fly this plane and land it? Ted Striker: Surely you can't be serious. Dr. Rumack: I am serious; and don't call me Shirley.

   1980, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Airplane! (motion picture), Leslie Nielsen and Robert Hays (actors)

3. With confidence.

   His feet were planted surely on the ground.

   1 more example

   Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us[…].

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:1