Sentence examples for could mean merely from inspiring English sources

It is hard to see how America could avoid contributing bilaterally, but administration officials refuse to offer details.Insiders make clear that there will not be a support package without some private-sector involvement, but this could mean merely that banks agree to roll over their short-term credit lines.

Surely the statement that he could have done otherwise does not mean merely that it is logically possible that he did otherwise, for superhuman and miraculous bits of behavior are logically possible.

Yet small can also mean merely petty.

By change, they don't mean merely a tuneup.

This doesn't mean merely looking busy.

Interpreted strictly, the law could mean imprisonment for merely lending a cell phone to an al-Nusra member; Harroun was saying that he had conducted ambushes and fired rocket-propelled grenade launchers with the organization.

Vince Cable has warned a housing boom could mean the economic recovery is merely a "short term bounce" in a warning shot aimed at the Liberal Democrats' Coalition partners.

Moreover, the countries who will make these "contributions" are merely "those who are ready"—which could mean anyone or no one.Behind these weasel words lies a split unresolved after many years between developing and rich countries.

That could mean that the kingdom's comparative stability is not a turning point but merely a reprieve.

It may be that this side of e-commerce is merely not "mature," that catch-all term that could mean so many things.

Engadget says this could merely describe the unibody MacBook; Gizmodo says it could mean that Apple is experimenting with miniaturization; Arrington claimed that a Mac tablet was on the way late last year.