only
OHN-lee
Only (adj) means being the single one of its kind; sole. Example: “This is the only copy of the letter that survived.”
adj
1
Being the single one of its kind; sole.
"This is the only copy of the letter that survived."
"He was the only person who showed up on time."
"She is the only one in the class who speaks Welsh."
adv
1
Exclusively, and nothing or no one else besides.
"The offer is only available to new customers."
"She only eats breakfast on weekdays."
"I only need five minutes to finish packing my bag."
conj
1
Used to introduce an exception or a disappointing twist to what was just said; but.
"I would have called, only my phone had died."
"I'd love to join you, only I have to look after my sister."
"The soup smelled lovely, only it turned out to be far too salty."
How to use only
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLimits something to just one thing, person, or possibility — "and nothing else."
Common mistake
Placement changes meaning: "only I saw him" (nobody else did) is different from "I only saw him" (I didn't talk to him, just saw him). Put "only" right next to the word it's limiting.
Common pairings
the only one
only child
if only
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Word forms
- Plural
- onlys, onlies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
This is the _____ copy of the letter that survived.
Etymology
From Middle English oonly, from Old English ānlīċ ("singular, solitary"), literally built from one + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for only
See all rhymes for only →Frequently asked questions
What does “only” mean?
The word “only” means being the single one of its kind; sole. In plain terms, limits something to just one thing, person, or possibility — "and nothing else.".
How do you pronounce “only”?
“Only” is pronounced OHN-lee (/ˈoʊn.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “only” in a sentence?
Here is “only” used in a sentence: “This is the only copy of the letter that survived.”
What part of speech is “only”?
Depending on how it is used, “only” can be an adjective, an adverb and a conjunction.
Where does the word “only” come from?
The word “only” comes from Old English. From Middle English oonly, from Old English ānlīċ ("singular, solitary"), literally built from one + -ly.
Is “only” a common word?
“Only” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “only” have?
“Only” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: being the single one of its kind; sole.
What is the difference between 'only' as an adjective and as an adverb?
As an adjective, 'only' means sole — the single one of its kind: 'the only exit,' 'their only child.' As an adverb, it means merely or no more than: 'I only asked once.' The adjective sits before a noun to mark uniqueness; the adverb limits or restricts the rest of the sentence.
What does 'an only child' mean?
An only child is someone with no brothers or sisters — the sole child in the family. Here 'only' is an adjective meaning the single one of its kind. It says nothing about the child's personality; it simply states that there are no siblings.
What is an example of 'only' as an adjective?
In 'she was the only witness,' 'only' marks her as the single one of her kind — no other witnesses existed. Other examples include 'the only copy,' 'our only hope,' and 'the only road into town.' In each, 'only' stresses that there is just one.
Does where you put 'only' in a sentence change the meaning?
Yes, especially with the adverb. 'Only she saw him' (no one else did) differs from 'she only saw him' (she did nothing more) and 'she saw only him' (no one else). Placing 'only' directly before the word it limits keeps your meaning clear.
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