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

In the first World Cup game against Croatia, Bellingham scored a fantastic solo goal to put England 3-2 ahead.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

The duet was released in June last year as a remix of Fender's solo album track.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

“As a full-time solo RV woman I absolutely adore this!” one person wrote.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

But the solo move marked a milestone achievement for Laija García, who had no designs of becoming an international musical marvel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

How it’s probably better in a group home to just roll solo and do your time and don’t mess with nobody.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

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

Ireland was the last country in the region to allow unrestricted jus soli.

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

In truth, more than 30 other countries in the Western Hemisphere alone have some form of jus soli, where birth automatically confers citizenship.

From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2018

In other words his rights exist ratione soli and not ratione privilegii.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 4 "G" to "Gaskell, Elizabeth" by Various

The poignant “Time Waits for No One” features one of Taylor’s most beautiful solos, a fitting coda to the end of his five-year career with the Stones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Something of a lull arrived in the middle of the three-hour set, with newer, less familiar numbers, covers, and extended versions of songs with multiple solos in them.

From BBC ● Jun. 15, 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

Mr. Millepied’s contemporary dance choreography is dominated by animated groups alternating with trios, duos and solos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 9, 2026

“For solos, right after lunch. And Zara, please save your barf for outside.”

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

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

Dutch veteran Wout Poels soloed to victory Sunday after the tough trek in the Alps.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 16, 2023

Covi attacked on the lower slopes of the Passo Pordoi and soloed across the Cima Coppi to take the prize for crossing the highest point of the Giro first.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2022

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

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

I went into this with a bias of what I thought about free soloing, but through interviews and research I learned there are a lot of different reasons, just like any other high-risk activity.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2022