squarely

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɛə(ɹ).li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈskwɛɹ.li/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)li
• Hyphenation: square‧ly

Adverb

squarely (comparative more squarely, superlative most squarely)

1. (geometry) In the shape of a square; at right angles.
2. (also figurative) Firmly and solidly.
   • 2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, quoting Joe Biden, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     “I stand squarely behind my decision,” he said, adding that he would not “shrink from my share of responsibility for where we are today.”

3. (figurative) In a direct, straightforward and honest manner.
   • 2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:

     But Republicans placed the blame squarely on Mr. Biden.

Derived terms

• fairly and squarely

Translations

In the shape of a square; at right angles

• Bulgarian: квадратно (bg) (kvadratno)
• Esperanto: kvadrate
• French: d’équerre (fr), à l’équerre (fr), carrément (fr) (dated)
• German: quadratisch (de), rechteckig (de)
• Occitan: carradament
• Spanish: en forma de cuadrado, cuadradamente (obsolete)
• Swedish: kvadratiskt (sv)

Firmly and solidly

• Bulgarian: твърдо (bg) (tvǎrdo), категорично (bg) (kategorično)
• French: solidement (fr), fermement (fr), carrément (fr)
• German: fest (de), felsenfest (de)
• Hungarian: határozottan (hu)
• Occitan: solidament (oc), fèrmament
• Portuguese: firmemente (pt), solidamente
• Russian: твёрдо (ru) (tvjórdo), определённо (ru) (opredeljónno), непосре́дственно (ru) (neposrédstvenno)
• Spanish: sólidamente (es), cuadradamente (obsolete)

In a direct, straightforward and honest manner

• Bulgarian: честно (bg) (čestno), почтено (bg) (počteno)
• French: carrément (fr)
• German: direkt (de)
• Spanish: rectamente (es)