adverb
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
bluntly/crudely/plainly (= in a direct way that may offend people )
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I would put it more bluntly. I think you are wallowing in self-pity.
clearly/plainly visible
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The fracture was clearly visible on the X-ray.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
visible
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He glared down at us threateningly, arms braced against the high wall, weapon plainly visible .
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They looked down from the bridge and saw the arms washed upwards, the plague swellings plainly visible .
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The regimental formations were plainly visible , with the colors flying...
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Klift's head was plainly visible .
wrong
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This is plainly wrong , though no one is sure just how wrong.
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The judge's conclusion that there is such a risk was plainly wrong .
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That was, of course, plainly wrong .
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To that extent that part of the order is plainly wrong and must be set aside.
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He says look at the factories and businesses going bust - the letter is plainly wrong .
■ VERB
see
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He was shipping water at a furious rate and could plainly see that he was drowning.
speak
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The ability of a listener to respond appropriately to instructions is heavily dependent on the ability of the instructor to speak plainly .
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We also need to encourage professional researchers to speak plainly .
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Let me speak plainly in response to this paragraph.
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Researchers who speak plainly are likely to find themselves embroiled in controversy and accused of unscientific bias.
state
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The ghetto effect of these areas was plainly stated in the Commissioners' report.
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Explicit relevance is where the writer plainly states the importance of a point in relation to the question being dealt with.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Plainly , an investigation into the tragedy would be necessary.
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a plainly dressed man
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Garver was plainly nervous as she began her speech.
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The price is marked plainly on the tag.
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Woodard would not say plainly what his plans for the future were.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Indeed, attempts to reshape the opinions and behaviour of today's toe-happy adults are plainly futile.
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Intervention, both in theory and practice, is plainly an imperfect science.
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Mr Ridley plainly has a taste for the weird.
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Officials who packed private restaurants, where the bill for dinner exceeded their weekly wage, were plainly on the take.
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This is as true of theoretical and intellectual activities as of more plainly practical ones.
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This should have been plainly ridiculous to the Elizabethan audience.
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This was plainly an international language.
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Understandable as it is, this reaction is plainly not altogether reasonable.