only

Meaning

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Alone in a category.
2. (not-comparable) Singularly superior; the best.
3. (not-comparable) Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.
4. (not-comparable, obsolete) Mere.

Adv

1. (not-comparable) Without others or anything further; exclusively.
2. (not-comparable) No more than; just.
3. (not-comparable) As recently as.
4. (not-comparable) Emphasizing something that is just or necessary.
5. (British, not-comparable) Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.
6. (not-comparable) Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
7. (not-comparable, obsolete) Above all others; particularly.

Conj

1. (informal) Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.
2. (informal) Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.

Noun

An only child.

Particle

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

Synonyms

just

merely

alone

solely

sole

exclusively

single

simply

but

mere

solitary

one

unique

nothing but

except

lone

purely

still

entirely

no more than

barely

simple

really

exclusive

lonely

lonesome

since

surely

in all

however

individual

only one

approximately

common

scarcely

calm

only when

period

bounds

odd number

only if

plain

bill

nevertheless

exceptionally

exactly

absolutely

about

isolated

limits

Translations

seulement

nur

seul

solo

einzig

solamente

soltanto

único

solo

allein

alleen

slechts

sólo

uniquement

μόνο

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈəʊn.li/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: oonly

Inherited from Old English: ānlīċ

Cognate with Dutch: eenlijk

Cognate with German: ähnlich

Cognate with Old Norse: álíkr

Cognate with Swedish: enlig

In summary

From Middle English oonly, only, from Old English ānlīċ, ǣnlīċ (“only; singular; solitary”), from Proto-Germanic *ainalīkaz, equivalent to one + -ly. Cognate with obsolete Dutch eenlijk, German ähnlich (“similar”), Old Norse álíkr, Swedish enlig (“unified”). Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.

Sentences

Drink like a fish , water only .

These two are the only remaining works from him today .

Only when he , himself , reveals it .

Don't forget that everything you deal with is only one thing and nothing else .

His only wicket of the match was that of Mark Taylor .

There are only two historical remains of Boyette .