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Definition of 'only'

Word Frequency

only

(oʊnli )
language note:   In written English, only is usually placed immediately before the word it qualifies. In spoken English, however, you can use stress to indicate what only qualifies, so its position is not so important.
1. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use only to indicate the one thing that is true, appropriate, or necessary in a particular situation, in contrast to all the other things that are not true, appropriate, or necessary.
Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.
Only here were the police visible in any strength at all.
44-year-old woman seeks caring, honest male for friendship and fun. Genuine replies only.
A business can only be built and expanded on a sound financial base.
It's true that I seem to have forgotten you, but it only seems that way.
2. adverb
You use only to introduce the thing which must happen before the thing mentioned in the main part of the sentence can happen.
The lawyer is paid only if he wins.
The Bank of England insists that it will cut interest rates only when it is ready.
We surely tolerate this system only because it is familiar to us.
3. adjective
If you talk about the only person or thing involved in a particular situation, you mean there are no others involved in it.
She was the only woman in the company's legal department.
My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had - the only company.
That left Mr Dertliev as the only candidate.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
An only child is a child who has no brothers or sisters.
5. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use only to indicate that something is no more important, interesting, or difficult, for example, than you say it is, especially when you want to correct a wrong idea that someone may get or has already got.
At the moment it is only a theory.
'I'm only a sergeant,' said Clements.
Don't get defensive, Charlie. I was only joking.
Synonyms: just, simply, purely, merely   More Synonyms of only
6. adverb
You use only to emphasize how small an amount is or how short a length of time is.
[emphasis]
Child car seats only cost about £10 a week to hire.
...spacecraft guidance systems weighing only a few grams.
Decaffeinated coffee is only a bit better for you.
I've only recently met him.
7. adverb [ADVERB noun]
You use only to emphasize that you are talking about a small part of an amount or group, not the whole of it.
[emphasis]
These are only a few of the possibilities.
Only a minority of the people supported the Revolution.
8. adverb
Only is used after 'can' or 'could' to emphasize that it is impossible to do anything except the rather inadequate or limited action that is mentioned.
[emphasis]
For a moment I could say nothing. I could only stand and look.
The police can only guess at the scale of the problem.
9. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You can use only in the expressions I only wish or I only hope in order to emphasize what you are hoping or wishing.
[emphasis]
I only wish he were here now that things are getting better for me.
We can only hope that the elephants can recover.
10. conjunction
Only can be used to add a comment which slightly changes or limits what you have just said.
[informal]
It's just as dramatic as a film, only it's real.
It's a bit like my house, only nicer.
Drop in and see me when you're ready. Only don't take too long about it.
11. conjunction
Only can be used after a clause with 'would' to indicate why something is not done.
[spoken]
I'd invite you to come with me, only it's such a long way.
I'd be quite happy to go. Only I don't know what my kids would say about living there.
12. adverb [ADV to-inf]
You can use only before an infinitive to introduce an event which happens immediately after one you have just mentioned, and which is rather surprising or unfortunate.
Ryle tried the Embassy, only to be told that Hugh was in a meeting.
He raced through the living room, only to find the front door closed.
13. adverb [usually ADVERB adjective]
You can use only to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is.
[emphasis]
It's only fair to let her know that you intend to apply.
She appeared to have changed considerably, which was only to be expected.
14. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You can use only in front of a verb to indicate that the result of something is unfortunate or undesirable and is likely to make the situation worse rather than better.
The embargo would only hurt innocent civilians.
She says that legalising prostitution will only cause problems.
15. 
have only to/only have to
16. 
only just
17. 
only just
18. 
only too
19. 
only too
20.  if only
21.  not only
22.  the one and only
More Synonyms of only
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'only'

Word Frequency

only in British

(ˈəʊnlɪ )
adjective (prenominal)
1.  the only
2. 
(of a child) having no siblings
3. 
unique by virtue of being superior to anything else; peerless
4.  one and only
adverb
5. 
without anyone or anything else being included; alone
you have one choice only
only a genius can do that
6. 
merely or just
it's only Henry
7. 
no more or no greater than
we met only an hour ago
8. Irish
(intensifier)
she was only marvellous
it was only dreadful
9. 
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
10. 
not earlier than; not…until
I only found out yesterday
11.  if only
12.  only if
13.  only too
sentence connector
14. 
but; however: used to introduce an exception or condition
play outside: only don't go into the street
▶ USAGE 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)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'only'
Old English ānlīc, from ān one + -līc -ly2
Word Frequency

only in American

(ˈoʊnli ; ōnˈlē)
adjective
1. 
alone of its or their kind; by itself or by themselves; sole
2. 
having no siblings
an only child
3. 
alone in its or their superiority; best; finest
adverb
4. 
a. 
and no other; and no (or nothing) more; solely; exclusively
drink water only
b. 
merely; simply
5. 
(but) in what follows or in the end
to meet one crisis, only to face another
6. 
as recently as
elected only last fall
conjunction
7.  Informal
were it not that; except that; but
I'd have gone, only it rained
Idioms:
if only
only too
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'only'
ME < OE anlic < an, one + -lic, -ly1

Example sentences containing 'only'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Yet the problems had only just begun. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The only way they get help is if there are pacey guys covering for them. The Sun (2016)Why has this only come out now? Times, Sunday Times (2017)Yet it was only after his business failed that the real problems began. Times, Sunday Times (2017)This guy is the only person who has come out and said anything. The Sun (2016)And he technically is the only one of the three of us not to be fired by anyone. The Sun (2016)The return to three miles will help but he's surely only playing for place money. The Sun (2016)But only on the outside. The Sun (2016)She was only saved after emergency surgery. The Sun (2008)The second phase of the rebuilding has only just begun. Times, Sunday Times (2009)It will only get worse once you marry. The Sun (2010)Only true champions know the value of humility. The Sun (2015)Your information will only be used for the purposes of this competition. The Sun (2016)In many ways playing only one format puts pressure on you. Times, Sunday Times (2012) One can only imagine what the neighbours thought. Times, Sunday Times (2006)You fear that addressing these will only make things worse. Times, Sunday Times (2006)It is only influences from outside that will interfere with the forecasts. Michael Boulter EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)The ref was the only person who thought it was a red card. The Sun (2010)You may feel favours go only one way at home but you are storing up useful goodwill. The Sun (2009)Will that only add to the pressure? Times, Sunday Times (2013)Yet awareness alone goes only so far. Times, Sunday Times (2015)The fund has been the only means the family have had to maintain the hunt. The Sun (2011)This letter has only just come to light. Times, Sunday Times (2013)Yet only a third say they expect to scale back their lifestyle. Times, Sunday Times (2006)

Trends of 'only'

Extremely Common. only is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'only'

British English: only /ˈəʊnlɪ/ ADJECTIVE
sole If you talk about the only thing or person, you mean that there are no others.
It was the only shop in the town.
  • American English: only
  • Arabic: وَحِيدٌ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: único
  • Chinese: 唯一的
  • Croatian: jedini
  • Czech: jediný
  • Danish: eneste
  • Dutch: enig
  • European Spanish: único solo
  • Finnish: ainoa
  • French: seul
  • German: einziger
  • Greek: μοναδικός
  • Italian: solo
  • Japanese: 唯一の
  • Korean: 유일한
  • Norwegian: bare
  • Polish: jedyny
  • European Portuguese: único
  • Romanian: unic
  • Russian: единственный
  • Spanish: único solo y sin otro de su especie
  • Swedish: enda
  • Thai: เพียงเท่านั้น
  • Turkish: tek
  • Ukrainian: єдиний
  • Vietnamese: duy nhất
British English: only /ˈəʊnlɪ/ ADVERB
You use only when you are saying how small or short something is.
Their house is only a few miles from here.
  • American English: only
  • Arabic: فَقَطٌ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: somente
  • Chinese: 仅仅
  • Croatian: samo
  • Czech: jen
  • Danish: kun
  • Dutch: slechts
  • European Spanish: solo
  • Finnish: vain
  • French: seulement
  • German: nur
  • Greek: μόνο
  • Italian: solamente
  • Japanese: 単に
  • Korean: 다만 ...뿐
  • Norwegian: bare
  • Polish: tylko
  • European Portuguese: somente
  • Romanian: doar
  • Russian: только
  • Spanish: sólo
  • Swedish: bara endast
  • Thai: เท่านั้น
  • Turkish: yalnızca
  • Ukrainian: лише
  • Vietnamese: chỉ riêng
British English: only /ˈəʊnlɪ/ ADJECTIVE
child If you are an only child, you have no brothers or sisters.
  • American English: only
  • Arabic: وَحِيد
  • Brazilian Portuguese: único
  • Chinese: 唯一的
  • Croatian: jedini
  • Czech: jediný
  • Danish: ene-
  • Dutch: enig
  • European Spanish: único
  • Finnish: ainoa
  • French: uniqueenfant
  • German: einzig
  • Greek: μόνος
  • Italian: unico
  • Japanese: ただ一人の
  • Korean: 유일한
  • Norwegian: ene
  • Polish: jedynak
  • European Portuguese: único
  • Romanian: singur
  • Russian: единственный
  • Spanish: único
  • Swedish: enda
  • Thai: เพียงคนเดียว
  • Turkish: tek
  • Ukrainian: єдиний
  • Vietnamese: duy nhất

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Nearby words of 'only'

  • onliner
  • onload
  • onlooker
  • only
  • only chance
  • only child
  • only have to

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'O'

Related Terms of 'only'

  • if only
  • only if
  • eyes-only
  • not only
  • once-only

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of only from the Collins English Dictionary

Number in nouns

Singular number is used when the noun refers to one item. Plural number is used when the noun refers to more than one item. Countable nouns have both singular and plural forms. Uncountable nouns a...
Read more about 'Number in nouns'
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Scrabble score for 'only': 7
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