{
    "term": "mere",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc. somebody/something is",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It took her a mere 20 minutes to win."
                },
                {
                    "text": "A mere 2 per cent of their budget has been spent on publicity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He seemed so young, a mere boy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You've got the job. The interview will be a mere formality."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "used when you are saying that the fact that a particular thing is present in a situation is enough to have an influence on that situation",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "His mere presence *(= just the fact that he was there)* made her feel afraid."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The **mere fact that** they were prepared to talk was encouraging."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The **mere thought of** eating made him feel sick."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The merest *(= the slightest)* hint of smoke is enough to make her feel ill."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/mɪə(r)/",
                "audio": "me/mere/mere__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/mɪr/",
                "audio": "me/mere/mere__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "adjective late Middle English (in the senses ‘pure’ and ‘sheer, downright’): from Latin merus ‘undiluted’."
}