only

Plural: onlies, onlys

Adjective Satellite

• being the only one; single and isolated from others
  • "an only child"
• exclusive of anyone or anything else
  • "I'll have this car and this car only"

Adverb

• Exclusively; solely; with nothing or no one else.
• and nothing more
  • "he was only a child"
• without any others being included or involved
  • "a privilege granted only to him"
• with nevertheless the final result
  • "He arrived only to find his wife dead"
  • "We won only to lose again in the next round"
• in the final outcome
  • "These news will only make you more upset"
• except that
  • "It was the same story; only this time she came out better"
• never except when
  • "call me only if your cold gets worse"
• as recently as
  • "I spoke to him only an hour ago"

Adj

• Alone in a category.
• Singularly superior; the best.
• Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.
• Mere.

Adv

• Without others or anything further; exclusively.
• No more than; just.
• As recently as.
• Emphasizing something that is just or necessary.
• Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.
• Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
• Above all others; particularly.

Conj

• Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.
• Under the condition that; but.
• Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.
• But, except; but in fact.

Noun

• An only child.

Particle

• Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small or undemanding.

Examples

• He could only make a two-letter word with his dreadful rack.
• He is the only doctor for miles.
• He is their only son, in fact, an only child.
• He left only moments ago.
• He was the only male in attendance at the boyband concert.
• He'd been belittling her for years. It's only natural that she left.
• I helped him out only for him to betray me.
• I spent years studying a degree only to learn there was no requirement for such a certification.
• I threw out only him.
• I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg.
• If there were only one more ticket!
• It's only fair to let him borrow your kite, after you've had his toys all day.
• Just need to replace the filter only.
• My heart is hers, and hers only.
• She would get good results only she gets nervous.
• She's only gone and run off with the milkman!
• That was the only time I went to Turkey.
• The cat only sat on the mat. It didn't scratch it.
• The cat sat only on the mat. It kept off the sofa.
• The only people in the stadium were the fans: no players, coaches, or officials.
• The only scientist to have won three Nobel prizes.
• They rallied from a three-goal deficit only to lose in the final two minutes of play.
• You look like me, only shorter.
• You're welcome to borrow my bicycle, only please take care of it.

Synonyms

alone, but, entirely, exclusively, just, lone, lonesome, merely, only if, only when, simply, sole, solely, solitary, nia, nonpareil, peerless, that's all, unequaled

Related Words

A. F. (1992), Gupta, ah1–3, already, ba1, ba2, hah1–3, hor1, hor2, if only, in, know, lah1–14, leh1–2, leh3–6, leh7–11, liao, lor1, lor2–3, mah, meh, nia, number 1, one1–3, sia, volume 18, what, →DOI

Anagrams of only