only

[ ohn-lee ]

adverb

1. without others or anything further; alone; solely; exclusively:

   This information is for your eyes only.

2. no more than; merely; just: I cook only on weekends, never on weekdays.

   If it were only true!

   I cook only on weekends, never on weekdays.

3. as recently as:

   I read that article only yesterday.

4. in the final outcome or decision:

   You will only regret your harsh words to me.

adjective

1. being the single one or the relatively few of the kind:

   This is the only pencil I can find.

   Synonyms: lone, solitary

   Antonyms: common, plentiful

2. having no sibling or no sibling of the same gender: He was their only son, but they had three daughters

   Although I had lots of cousins, I was an only child.

   He was their only son, but they had three daughters

3. single in superiority or distinction; unique; the best:

   the one and only Muhammad Ali.

   Synonyms: exclusive, peerless

conjunction

1. but (introducing a single restriction, restraining circumstance, or the like):

   I would have gone, only you objected.

2. Older Use. except; but:

   Only for him you would not be here.

only

/ ˈəʊnlɪ /

adjective

1. the only
   being single or very few in number

   the only men left in town were too old to bear arms

2. (of a child) having no siblings
3. unique by virtue of being superior to anything else; peerless
4. one and only
   1. adjective incomparable; unique
   2. as noun the object of all one's love

      you are my one and only

adverb

1. without anyone or anything else being included; alone

   only a genius can do that

   you have one choice only

2. merely or just

   it's only Henry

3. no more or no greater than

   we met only an hour ago

4. (intensifier)

   she was only marvellous

   it was only dreadful

5. 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

6. not earlier than; not…until

   I only found out yesterday

7. if only
   an expression used to introduce a wish, esp one felt to be unrealizable
8. only if
   never…except when
9. only too
   1. (intensifier)

      he was only too pleased to help

   2. most regrettably (esp in the phrase only too true )

sentence connector

1. but; however: used to introduce an exception or condition

   play outside: only don't go into the street

Usage Note

The placement of only as a modifier is more a matter of style and clarity than of grammatical rule. In a sentence like The doctor examined the children, varying the placement of only results in quite different meanings: The doctor only examined the children means that the doctor did nothing else. And The doctor examined only the children means that no one else was examined. Especially in formal writing, the placement of only immediately before what it modifies is often observed: She sold the stock only because she needed the money. However, there has long been a tendency in all varieties of speech and writing to place only before the verb ( She only sold the stock because she needed the money ), and such placement is rarely confusing.

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of only¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ānlich, ǣnlich; one, -ly

Word History and Origins

Origin of only¹

Old English ānlīc, from ān one + -līc -ly ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. only too,
   1. as a matter of fact; extremely:

      I am only too glad to go.

   2. unfortunately; very:

      It is only too likely to happen.

More idioms and phrases containing only

• beauty is only skin deep
• have an eye (eyes only) for
• if only
• in name only
• not the only fish in the sea
• one and only

Example Sentences

The percentages might sound high but only apply to certain aspects of production, for example, thereby limiting the net impact, said Daniels.

From Salon

Data from Ms Riley's smartwatch showed she had "fought for her life, fought for her dignity" only minutes after departing on her run, the trial heard.

From BBC

Thames Water chief executive Chris Weston previously warned that the company only has enough cash to survive till next May but many think it will run out of money by Christmas.

From BBC

The incentives would apply in single-family zones only if a property is owned by a public agency or a faith-based organization, which accounts for just a sliver of the city’s single-family lots.

From Los Angeles Times

The film’s version of “Dancing Through Life” is so backlit that it’s hard to make out characters beyond a blinding white glare, an offense second only to the way Elphaba is filmed in low light.

From Salon

Related Words

• alone