plainly meaning and definition

PLAINLY adverb

Definition of plainly (adverb)

1. unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')
   • "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list"; "it is all patently nonsense"; "she has apparently been living here for some time"; "I thought he owned the property, but apparently not"; "You are plainly wrong"; "he is plain stubborn"
   • synonyms: apparently, evidently, manifestly, obviously, patently, plain
2. in a simple manner; without extravagance or embellishment
   • "she was dressed plainly"; "they lived very simply"
   • synonyms: simply