What is the meaning of only?

adjective

  • Being the only one; single and isolated from others.
    • usage: "the lone doctor in the entire county"; "a lonesome pine"; "an only child"; "the sole heir"; "the sole example"; "a solitary instance of cowardice"; "a solitary speck in the sky"
  • Exclusive of anyone or anything else.
    • usage: "she alone believed him"; "cannot live by bread alone"; "I'll have this car and this car only"

adverb

  • And nothing more.
    • usage: "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"
  • Without any others being included or involved.
    • usage: "was entirely to blame"; "a school devoted entirely to the needs of problem children"; "he works for Mr. Smith exclusively"; "did it solely for money"; "the burden of proof rests on the prosecution alone"; "a privilege granted only to him"
  • With nevertheless the final result.
    • usage: "He arrived only to find his wife dead"; "We won only to lose again in the next round"
  • In the final outcome.
    • usage: "These news will only make you more upset"
  • Except that.
    • usage: "It was the same story; only this time she came out better"
  • Never except when.
    • usage: "call me only if your cold gets worse"
  • As recently as.
    • usage: "I spoke to him only an hour ago"
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APAWordNet. (2010). only. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/only/definitions/1179863
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "only" http://smartdefine.org/only/definitions/1179863 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, only, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/only/definitions/1179863>.
MLAWordNet. "only" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/only/definitions/1179863>
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