Standard Lemma guide

squarely

adv · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈskwɛə(ɹ).li/
  • Canada, General-American: /ˈskwɛɹ.li/
  • Wisconsin Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ˈskweː.li/
  • /ˈskwiə̯.li/ New Zealand, cheer–chair merger
  • New-Zealand: /ˈskweə̯.li/ without the cheer–chair merger
  • rhymes with -ɛə(ɹ)li
  • CMU ARPABET: S K W EH1 R L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In the shape of a square; at right angles.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Firmly and solidly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

In a direct, straightforward and honest manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

with firmness and conviction; without compromise- C.G.Bowers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he stood foursquare for religious liberty and toleration
  • dealt straightforwardly with all issues

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: foursquare, straightforwardly

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

firmly and solidly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • hit the ball squarely
  • the bat met the ball squarely
  • planted his great bulk square before his enemy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: square

Antonyms: none provided

6

adverb

Meaning 6

in a square shape

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a squarely cut piece of paper
  • folded the sheet of paper square

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: square

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

directly and without evasion; not roundabout

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • to face a problem squarely
  • the responsibility lies squarely with them
  • spoke forthright (or forthrightly) and to the point

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: forthrightly, forthright

Antonyms: none provided

8

adverb

Meaning 8

in a straight direct way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • looked him squarely in the eye
  • ran square into me

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: square

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From square + -ly. First use appears c. 1557 in the writings of Robert Recorde.

Across languages

Translations

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: квадратно (kvadratno) — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • Esperanto: kvadrate — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • French: d'équerre — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • French: à l'équerre — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • French: carrément — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • German: quadratisch — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • German: rechteckig — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • Occitan: carradament — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • Spanish: en forma de cuadrado — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • Spanish: cuadradamente — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • Swedish: kvadratiskt — In the shape of a square; at right angles
  • Bulgarian: твърдо (tvǎrdo) — Firmly and solidly
  • Bulgarian: категорично (kategorično) — Firmly and solidly
  • Czech: zcela — Firmly and solidly
  • Czech: bezvýhradně — Firmly and solidly
  • French: solidement — Firmly and solidly
  • French: fermement — Firmly and solidly
  • French: carrément — Firmly and solidly
  • German: fest — Firmly and solidly
  • German: felsenfest — Firmly and solidly
  • Hungarian: határozottan — Firmly and solidly
  • Occitan: solidament — Firmly and solidly
  • Occitan: fèrmament — Firmly and solidly
  • Portuguese: firmemente — Firmly and solidly
  • Portuguese: solidamente — Firmly and solidly
  • Russian: твёрдо (tvjórdo) — Firmly and solidly
  • Russian: определённо (opredeljónno) — Firmly and solidly
  • Russian: непосре́дственно (neposrédstvenno) — Firmly and solidly
  • Spanish: sólidamente — Firmly and solidly
  • Spanish: cuadradamente — Firmly and solidly
  • Bulgarian: честно (čestno) — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
  • Bulgarian: почтено (počteno) — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
  • Czech: přímo — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
  • Czech: rovnou — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
  • French: carrément — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
  • German: direkt — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
  • Spanish: rectamente — In a direct, straightforward and honest manner