only

Adjective

Adjective

×

A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun.

1. 1.Alone in a category.

   • He is the only doctor for miles.
   • That was the only time I went to Turkey.
   • He was the only male in attendance at the boyband concert.

2. 2.Singularly superior; the best.

   • "People say there's other games," Jack had said to Cassie at Small Falls earlier that day. "But baseball's the only game."
   • The baron had taken a great liking to the Americans and to their ways of doing things, and frequently asserted that America was the only place to live.

3. 3.Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.

   • He is their only son, in fact, an only child.

Adverb

Adverb

×

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a clause.

1. 1.Without others or anything further; exclusively.

   • My heart is hers, and hers only.
   • The cat sat only on the mat. It kept off the sofa.
   • The only scientist to have won three Nobel prizes.

2. 2.No more than; just.

   • If there were only one more ticket!
   • The cat only sat on the mat. It didn't scratch it.
   • ‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’

3. 3.As recently as.

   • He left only moments ago.

4. 4.Emphasizing something that is just or necessary.

   • He'd been belittling her for years. It's only natural that she left.
   • It's only fair to let him borrow your kite, after you've had his toys all day.

Conj

Conjunction

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A word that links words, phrases, or clauses.

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

   • You look like me, only shorter.
   • She would get good results only she gets nervous.
   • I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg.

Overall

Very common· #112

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Common

General reading & writing

Very common

Academic

Uncommon

Literature

Uncommon

Word family

• on
• one