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only

on·ly
O o

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ohn-lee]
    • /ˈoʊn li/
    • /ˈəʊnli/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ohn-lee]
    • /ˈoʊn li/

Definitions of only word

  • adverb only without others or anything further; alone; solely; exclusively: This information is for your eyes only. 1
  • adverb only no more than; merely; just: If it were only true! I cook only on weekends. 1
  • adverb only as recently as: I read that article only yesterday. 1
  • adverb only in the final outcome or decision: You will only regret your harsh words to me. 1
  • adjective only being the single one or the relatively few of the kind: This is the only pencil I can find. 1
  • adjective only having no sibling or no sibling of the same sex: an only child; an only son. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of only

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English; Old English ānlich, ǣnlich. See one, -ly

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Only

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

only popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

only usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for only

adverb only

  • merely — only as specified and nothing more; simply: merely a matter of form.
  • simply — in a simple manner; clearly and easily.
  • just — guided by truth, reason, justice, and fairness: We hope to be just in our understanding of such difficult situations.
  • barely — You use barely to say that something is only just true or only just the case.
  • alone — When you are alone, you are not with any other people.

adjective only

  • lone — being alone; without company or accompaniment; solitary; unaccompanied: a lone traveler.
  • solitary — alone; without companions; unattended: a solitary passer-by.
  • individual — a single human being, as distinguished from a group.
  • one — being or amounting to a single unit or individual or entire thing, item, or object rather than two or more; a single: one woman; one nation; one piece of cake.
  • single — only one in number; one only; unique; sole: a single example.

Antonyms for only

adverb only

  • incompletely — not complete; lacking some part.
  • indefinitely — not definite; without fixed or specified limit; unlimited: an indefinite number.

Top questions with only

  • kid rock only god knows why?
  • kid rock- only god knows why?
  • only god knows why?
  • thunder only happens when it's raining?
  • why d you only call me when youre high lyrics?
  • thunder only happens when its raining?
  • you say i only hear what i want to?
  • you say.. i only hear what i want to?
  • players only love you when they re playing?
  • who was the only us president to never marry?
  • the man who loved only numbers?
  • what is the only state that grows and produces coffee?
  • only god knows why lyrics?
  • only know you love her when you let her go?
  • she only comes when she's on top?

See also

Matching words

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