only
14 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of ONLY
always used before a noun
:
alone in a class or category
:
existing with no other or others of the same kind
— usually used with the or a possessive (such as my, her, its, their, John's, etc.)
—
see also only child, the one and only at 3one
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He's the only [=one] man I've ever loved.
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They were the only people to survive the crash.
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You're not the only one who's worried about the future. [=other people are also worried about the future]
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You're the only person I trust.
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my only true friend
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He was her only brother.
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What a shame, your party is on the only day I can't come!
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Mondays are Kim's only days off from work.
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This is the only cleaning product you'll ever need!
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Keeping you safe is our only [=sole] concern.
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That was the only reason I didn't take the job.
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The only way out is through that window.
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It's the only possible answer. = It's the only answer possible.
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The only thing left for us to do is wait. [=there is nothing else we can do but wait]
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(informally) I can probably come Friday. The only thing [=the one problem] is that my car is in the shop.
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It's the first and only drug of its kind.
one of the only
:
one of very few
:
one in a small class or category
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That was one of the only times I ever saw my father cry.
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This is one of the only places in the world where the plant is found.
the only
— used to emphasize that a particular person or thing should be the one chosen
— usually + for
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This is the only book for serious collectors.
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She's the only person for the job.
2
only
/ˈoʊnli/
adverb
2
only
/ˈoʊnli/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of ONLY
1
a
:
no more than
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They lost only [=just, merely] one game this season.
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I've met him only once. = I've only met him once.
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She had been there only twice in her life.
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We have only five minutes to get there. = We only have five minutes to get there.
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There are only two more weeks until summer vacation.
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It's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
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Do you really have to leave? It's only eight o'clock.
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He was only a baby when his father died.
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Leave her alone. She's only a kid.
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The building is only about 10 years old.
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She plays several instruments including the guitar, violin, and piano, to name only [=but] a few.
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It was quiet in the room, but only for a moment.
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She is only partly/partially to blame.
b
:
nothing other than
— used to indicate that a single thing was done, is needed, is possible, etc.
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I asked him a question, but he only smiled in response.
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I'm happy to help. You only have/need to ask. = (more formally) You have only to ask. = (more formally) You need only ask. [=I will gladly help you if you ask me to]
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We can only guess/imagine/wonder [=we cannot know] what they will do next.
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One can only hope for the best. [=there is nothing to do but hope for the best]
c
— used for emphasis
— sometimes used in the phrase only just
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I only wish [=I wish very much] you'd told me sooner.
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I only hope that the mistake will be corrected soon.
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It's only natural [=it's normal/reasonable] (that) you would feel that way.
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We only just missed the bus. [=we missed it by a very small amount of time; we almost caught the bus]
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Our trip had only just begun.
2
:
excluding all others
:
nobody or nothing except
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The club is for women only.
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The sign on the door says “Employees Only.”
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Only employees can use that door.
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I love only you and no one else.
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She said only that she knew him. [=she said nothing other than that she knew him]
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The storm destroyed the house leaving only a pile of rubble.
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That sound can mean only one thing. = That sound can only mean one thing.
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Only the strongest will survive.
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Only the best fabric will do. [=I want nothing except the best fabric]
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The restaurant serves only vegetarian cuisine.
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For reasons known only to her/herself, she sold her house and left town.
3
a
:
in no time, place, or situation except the one specified
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Violence should be used only as a last resort. = Violence should only be used as a last resort.
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It should be used only when (it's) absolutely necessary.
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Only then did I realize that I had made a mistake.
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The animal is found only on the continent of Australia.
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Only in America can such things happen! [=such things cannot happen anywhere but in America]
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The drug is available only by prescription. = The drug is available by prescription only.
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I'll go only if he goes with me. = (more strongly) I'll go if and only if he goes with me.
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We made the change only after careful consideration of the consequences.
b
:
for no other reason than
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I came here only because she asked me to.
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only for the sake of argument
4
:
nothing more important or serious than
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It was only [=just, merely] a minor accident. No one got hurt.
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I'm fine. It's only a scratch.
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“Who was that on the phone?” “Oh, it was only a salesperson.”
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I didn't hit him. I only touched him!
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She didn't mean to insult you. She was only joking!
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They were only following orders.
5
— used to emphasize that something happened recently
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It happened only [=just] last week.
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I saw her here only a moment ago.
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Only in the last few years have we come to understand the condition.
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It seems like only yesterday that you were a baby.
6
a
— used to say that something has or will have a particular and usually bad result
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You shouldn't eat that. It will only make you sick.
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The large number of people who came to help only added to the confusion.
b
— used to indicate something bad or surprising that happens after something else
— followed by to + verb
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They won the battle, only to lose the war. [=they won the battle but lost the war]
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I ran to the station only to find (that) I had missed the train.
for your eyes only
if only
in name only
not only
— used to say that both of two related statements are true
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Not only did they win, they won by a landslide.
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The killing of these animals is not only illegal, it's also immoral.
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The game is not only lots of fun, it's educational too!
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Photographs are not only permitted, they are encouraged.
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I'm concerned not only for myself, but for my children (as well).
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She had the nerve to accuse me of lying. And not only that, but she refused to apologize!
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The festivals take place not only in the city but also in the surrounding rural areas.
only have eyes for
only too
:
very or completely
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He knew only too well [=he knew very well] what it meant to go to war.
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They were only too ready to give up and go home.
