Definition Synonyms
Definition of only - Reverso English Dictionary
Adverb
1.
single optionexclusively, without including others
- She only invited her closest friends.
2.
small amountno more than, just
- He only has five dollars left.
3.
disappointmentUK introduces a disappointing outcomeUK
- She studied hard, only to fail the exam.
4.
timeUK as recently asUK
- I only saw her yesterday.
5.
emotionUK expressing surprise or consternationUK
- He only went and won the lottery!
Adjective
1.
singularsingle in a particular situation
- She was the only person at the meeting.
2.
childhaving no brothers or sisters
- He is an only child.
3.
rankingDated superior to all othersDated
- She is the only candidate for the job.
Expressions with only
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indicating a statement was not serious
I said I was leaving, only joking.
expresses a wish or desire for something unreal
If only I could fly.
very much or to a high degree
She was only too happy to help.
having human flaws or making mistakes
Don't be too hard on him; he's only human.
trying to make someone laugh with playful words
Relax, I'm only kidding about your shoes.
stay in a place briefly without settling
I'm only passing through this town for the night.
expressing surprise at how fast time has passed
It seems like only yesterday the kids were toddlers.
unique, one of a kind
She is the one and only artist to win this award.
minor injury or damage not serious
It's only a scratch, don't worry about it.
future will reveal the outcome of a situation
Only time will tell if they succeed.
express that a past event feels very recent in memory
It seem like only yesterday we started high school together.
express that a situation becomes more difficult or bad
That only makes matters worse when you ignore the advice!
what matters is a person's character, not their appearance
Beauty is only skin deep, so judge people by their actions.
express inevitability of an event happening in the future
It's only a matter of time before she wins the race.
reason given to avoid doing something
He said he was busy, but it's only an excuse.
expresses that an emotional reaction is normal and expected
It's only natural to feel sad after losing a pet.
saying an outcome is expected and deserved
After his efforts, it's only right he gets the promotion.
be focused on one thing or person
Despite the distractions, he only has eyes for his work.
the future will reveal the outcome of a situation
Only time can tell if their relationship will last.
situation where all seats are taken
The concert was standing room only by the time we arrived.
natural for people to make mistakes or feel emotions
Don't worry about the error, that's only human.
explored only a small part of something
We've only scratched the surface of the ocean's mysteries.
used to express uncertainty or lack of knowledge
Christ only knows where she went after the meeting.
express that only exact success matters, not near success
Close only counts in horseshoes, so try harder next time!
Origin of only
Old English, ān (one) + līc (like)
Terms with only included in their meaning
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limitation
only or simply, without anything more
time
happening one time only
numbers
sole or only
quantity
one only, not multiple
soft speech
speak very softly so only one person can hear
duration
lasting only a short time
remaining
being the only one remaining
solely
only or just, without anything extra
hearing impairment
unable to hear or only partially able to hear
family
sibling who shares only one biological parent
partial
including only half or a portion
made-up ideas
not real, existing only in the mind
work duration
done for only part of the usual working time
self-interest
concerned only with personal gain or pleasure
short term
not permanent, existing only for a limited time
imagination
happening only in someone's mind, not in real life
very strong person
person or thing with only strong body and no fat
advice
only possible action is making a request or inquiry
quantity
only just sufficient
confidentially
shared only with the people involved, not others
cycling
path designated for bicycles only
quick overview
short statement that gives only the main points
food
whole rice grain with only the husk removed
literal
consume completely by fire until only ashes remain
Examples of only in a sentence
The club is only for members. She only needs a minute to decide. I only want a small piece of cake. He trained for months, only to finish last in the race. They invested heavily, only to see the project fail. She only arrived this morning.
They only finished the project last week. She only went and told everyone the secret! They only went and forgot the tickets! He was the only child in the family. This is the only option available. She grew up as an only child. Being an only child, he often felt lonely. Their only hope was a last-minute appeal. This is the only route open after midnight.
View all translations of only
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:seulement, seul, ...
- German:nur, einzige, ...
- Italian:solo, unico, ...
- Spanish:solo, único, ...
- Portuguese:só, único, ...
- Chinese:只, 唯一的, ...
- Japanese:排他的に, 唯一の, ...
- Arabic:فَقَط, وَحِيد, ...
- Hebrew:רַק, יָחִיד, ...
- Russian:только, единственный, ...
- Ukrainian:лише, єдиний, ...
- Hindi:केवल, एकमात्र, ...
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