only

American  

[ohn-lee] / ˈoʊn li /

adverb

1. without others or anything further; alone; solely; exclusively.

   This information is for your eyes only.

2. no more than; merely; just: I cook only on weekends, never on weekdays.

   If it were only true!

   I cook only on weekends, never on weekdays.

3. as recently as.

   I read that article only yesterday.

4. in the final outcome or decision.

   You will only regret your harsh words to me.

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adjective

1. being the single one or the relatively few of the kind.

   This is the only pencil I can find.

   Synonyms:

   lone, solitary

   Antonyms:

   common, plentiful

2. having no sibling or no sibling of the same gender: He was their only son, but they had three daughters

   Although I had lots of cousins, I was an only child.

   He was their only son, but they had three daughters

3. single in superiority or distinction; unique; the best.

   the one and only Muhammad Ali.

   Synonyms:

   exclusive, peerless

conjunction

1. but (introducing a single restriction, restraining circumstance, or the like).

   I would have gone, only you objected.

2. Older Use. except; but.

   Only for him you would not be here.

idioms

1. only too,

   1. as a matter of fact; extremely.

      I am only too glad to go.

   2. unfortunately; very.

      It is only too likely to happen.

only British  

/ ˈəʊnlɪ /

adjective

1. being single or very few in number

   the only men left in town were too old to bear arms

2. (of a child) having no siblings

3. unique by virtue of being superior to anything else; peerless

4. 1. (adjective) incomparable; unique

   2. (as noun) the object of all one's love

      you are my one and only

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adverb

1. without anyone or anything else being included; alone

   you have one choice only

   only a genius can do that

2. merely or just

   it's only Henry

3. no more or no greater than

   we met only an hour ago

4. (intensifier)

   she was only marvellous

   it was only dreadful

5. used in conditional clauses introduced by if to emphasize the impossibility of the condition ever being fulfilled

   if I had only known, this would never have happened

6. not earlier than; not…until

   I only found out yesterday

7. an expression used to introduce a wish, esp one felt to be unrealizable

8. never…except when

9. 1. (intensifier)

      he was only too pleased to help

   2. most regrettably (esp in the phrase only too true )

1. but; however: used to introduce an exception or condition

   play outside: only don't go into the street

only More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing only

• beauty is only skin deep
• have an eye (eyes only) for
• if only
• in name only
• not the only fish in the sea
• one and only

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Usage

The placement of only as a modifier is more a matter of style and clarity than of grammatical rule. In a sentence like The doctor examined the children, varying the placement of only results in quite different meanings: The doctor only examined the children means that the doctor did nothing else. And The doctor examined only the children means that no one else was examined. Especially in formal writing, the placement of only immediately before what it modifies is often observed: She sold the stock only because she needed the money. However, there has long been a tendency in all varieties of speech and writing to place only before the verb ( She only sold the stock because she needed the money ), and such placement is rarely confusing.

In informal English, only is often used as a sentence connector: I would have phoned you, only I didn't know your number. This use should be avoided in formal writing: I would have phoned you if I'd known your number. In formal speech and writing, only is placed directly before the word or words that it modifies: she could interview only three applicants in the morning. In all but the most formal contexts, however, it is generally regarded as acceptable to put only before the verb: she could only interview three applicants in the morning. Care must be taken not to create ambiguity, esp in written English, in which intonation will not, as it does in speech, help to show to which item in the sentence only applies. A sentence such as she only drinks tea in the afternoon is capable of two interpretations and is therefore better rephrased either as she drinks only tea in the afternoon (i.e. no other drink) or she drinks tea only in the afternoon (i.e. at no other time)

Etymology

Origin of only

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ānlich, ǣnlich; one, -ly

Example Sentences

At age 38 he batted only .181 but provided a settling influence on young Dodgers stars Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

She then picked Malkinson out of a video ID parade - but only after changing her mind.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

The strait is only officially open until the cease-fire ends, which is expected to happen April 22—though it could be extended.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

“I was my mother’s only daughter,” Ms. Phillips notes, “the one who would inherit the dishes, the cradles, the women’s things, and the stories.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Not only was my first-ever date a dud, but now I had to let Ethan down gently.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• alone
• entirely
• hardly
• merely
• particularly
• purely
• simply
• solely