mere

柯林斯詞典

1. ADJ You use mere to emphasize how unimportant or inadequate something is, in comparison to the general situation you are describing. 衹不過[ADJ n] [強調(diào)]
...successful exhibitions which go beyond mere success. …不僅僅是成功，而是大獲成功的展覽。
There is more to good health than the mere absence of disease. 健康不僅僅指不生病，還包括更多。
2. ADJ You use mere to indicate that a quality or action that is usually unimportant has a very important or strong effect. 單單的 (用來指某事雖小卻有重要影響)[ADJ n]
The mere mention of food had triggered off hunger pangs. 單單提到食物就引起了陣陣的飢餓感。
3. ADJ You use mere to emphasize how small a particular amount or number is. 衹不過 (用於強調(diào)數(shù)量之少)['a' ADJ amount] [強調(diào)]
Sixty percent of teachers are women, but a mere five percent of women are principals. 60％的教師是女性，但衹有5％的女性是校長。
4. N a lake or marsh 湖; 沼澤[archaic, DIALECT]

It took a mere five minutes for the world champion to dispose of his opponent .
His tumultuous triumph five years ago now seems a mere footnote in history .
The committee is a mere appendage of the council and has no power of its own.
She had that indefinable something that went beyond mere sex appeal .
A thousand pounds is a mere bagatelle to him.
The mere possibility of a tax increase was enough to enrage him.
Is it really possible that the mere presence of certain actors can doom a TV show?