solo

American  

[soh-loh] / ˈsoʊ loʊ /

noun

• solos,
  plural
• soli
  plural

1. a musical composition or a passage or section in a musical composition written for performance by one singer or instrumentalist, with or without accompaniment.

   She sang a solo.

2. any performance, as a dance, by one person.

3. a flight in an airplane during which the pilot is unaccompanied by an instructor or other person.

   I'll be ready for my first solo next week.

4. a person who works, acts, or performs alone.

   He used to sing with a quartet, but now he's a solo.

5. a person who performs or accomplishes something without the usual equipment, tools, etc.

6. Informal. an announcement, commercial offering, etc., made to only one person or a selected group of such persons.

   Each month the firm sends a solo to its best customers.

7. Cards. any of certain games in which one person plays alone against others.

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adjective

1. Music. performing alone.

   a part for solo bassoon.

2. performed alone; not combined with other parts of equal importance; not concerted.

3. alone; without a companion or partner.

   a solo flight.

adverb

1. on one's own; alone or unaccompanied.

   After six lessons he was flying solo.

verb (used without object)

• solos,
  present (3rd person singular)
• soloed,
  past participle,  past
• soloing
  present participle

1. to perform or do a solo.

   to solo on the trumpet.

2. to pilot a plane, glider, etc., unaccompanied, especially for the first time.

   After the course the students should be able to solo.

3. to perform or accomplish something by oneself.

verb (used with object)

• solos,
  present (3rd person singular)
• soloed,
  past participle,  past
• soloing
  present participle

1. to pilot (a plane, glider, etc.) unaccompanied.

2. to allow (a student pilot) to pilot a plane, glider, etc., alone.

   The instructor decided to solo the student.

solo British  

/ ˈsəʊləʊ /

noun

1. a musical composition for one performer with or without accompaniment

2. any of various card games in which each person plays on his own instead of in partnership with another, such as solo whist

3. a flight in which an aircraft pilot is unaccompanied

4. 1. any performance, mountain climb, or other undertaking carried out by an individual without assistance from others

   2. ( as modifier )

      a solo attempt

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adjective

1. music unaccompanied

   a sonata for cello solo

adverb

1. by oneself; alone

   to fly solo

verb

1. (intr) to undertake a venture alone, esp to operate an aircraft alone or climb alone

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• soli
  plural
• solos
  plural

Participles

• soloing
  present
• soloed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• solo
  simple
• solos
  simple
• have soloed
  perfect
• has soloed
  perfect
• am soloing
  progressive
• are soloing
  progressive
• is soloing
  progressive
• have been soloing
  perfect progressive
• has been soloing
  perfect progressive

Past

• soloed
  simple
• had soloed
  perfect
• was soloing
  progressive
• were soloing
  progressive
• had been soloing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will solo
  simple
• will have soloed
  perfect
• will be soloing
  progressive
• will have been soloing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of solo

1685–95; < Italian < Latin sōlus alone

Explanation

A versatile word, solo means "alone" and can be used as a verb ("I get to solo in band today"), a noun ("She sang a beautiful solo"), or an adjective (I can't wait for my solo flight"). The word solo is often associated with a musical performance, from the Italian derivative from the Latin sōlum, "alone." Until the end of the 17th century, just the Latin form was used, usually in stage directions. Then it entered musical terminology, as sola, in 1695. The adjectival use developed in the 18th century, and in 1864 the form soloist, referring to one who performed a solo, first appeared. It wasn't until the mid-19th century that the word was used as a verb.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

solo soli solos soloed soloing

Kusama studied Japanese painting in Kyoto, against her parents' wishes, and held her first solo exhibition in 1952 in her hometown of Matsumoto in central Japan.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Eventually, she realised she needed to strike out as a solo artist – writing I Will Always Love You as a letter of apology to her former mentor.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

This time Laya’s hushed solo was slightly audible and equally astonishing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

She went solo, posting content on YouTube and social media platforms.

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

Marschner's solo line plays the opening of "Erbarme dich."

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

The idea that nearly everyone born on the land became a citizen was so pervasive as to have a name: jus soli, or “the right of the soil.”

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

While the United States is among a smaller group of countries that recognize jus soli, it is not alone in doing so.

From Salon ● May 24, 2026

John Skrentny, a sociology professor at the University of California, San Diego, believes that, though birthright citizenship or jus soli is common throughout the Americas, "each nation-state had its own unique road to it".

From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2025

Foreigners whose nationalities do not meet the jus soli or jus sanguinis principles can become Filipino citizens through the process of naturalization; however, they will have to renounce their previous citizenship.

From Encyclopedia.com ● Dec. 3, 2018

But, I had rather be condemned to the wo of Væ soli, then to that of Væ vobis Hypocritæ, by seeming to pray what I do not approve.

From Eikon Basilike The Pourtracture of His Sacred Majestie, in His Solitudes and Sufferings by King of England Charles I

“Listening to his solos brings up so many childhood memories,” Derbez tells The Times over Zoom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

In a Thursday night marathon, he paid tribute to the orchestra members, giving 17 players solos in various concerto movements.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

He has edited his solos a little; they seem more concise, but they still achieve the same goal: liftoff.

From Salon ● May 28, 2026

Known for long solos, Rollins was considered among the best improvisers and told PBS he would go on stage with his mind blank and no plan beyond an awareness of the structure of the piece.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

Soon she was singing well enough to be entrusted with solos when the junior choir performed at the church’s main Sunday service.

From "The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights" by Russell Freedman

He could have free soloed it, he says, but he would have been arrested.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

But the two-time champion soloed to victory on stage 14 and followed that up by dismissing his competition on a gruelling climb to the stage 15 finish in Plateau de Beille.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2024

Vingegaard kept intact his 10-second overall lead over the two-time champion on Sunday as Dutch veteran Wout Poels soloed to victory after a tough trek in the Alps with a mountaintop finish.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 16, 2023

Leclerc had just soloed two major routes on Cerro Torre and Torre Egger in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2021

Pianist Benito Gonzalez, who can be as devout a follower of McCoy Tyner as Lawrence is of Tyner’s most famous employer, soloed instead like himself, deploying a bevy of cascading phrases, licks and off-kilter rhythms.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 2, 2017

Honnold, 40, is known for free soloing, or climbing without ropes, harnesses and other equipment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

Moving freely across an expressive horizon reaching from bebop to free improvisation, he enhanced his imaginative soloing with a rich palette of saxophone sounds and textures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2023

A special element of this particular track that proves his superior sense of melodic playing is the fact that Barry sings as he’s soloing, which can be heard if you listen closely.

From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

Somewhat like her husband, Ms. Mingus could be testy toward the group’s musicians, teasing them at times for playing too loudly or soloing too long.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 27, 2022

If you went to Joshua Tree or Yosemite, you’d see several people free soloing as you did a route.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2022