solely
Americanadverb
-
as the only one or ones.
solely responsible.
-
exclusively or only.
plants found solely in the tropics.
-
merely.
She wanted solely to get out of the house for a while.
adverb
-
only; completely; entirely
-
without another or others; singly; alone
-
for one thing only
Etymology
Origin of solely
Explanation
Solely is another word for "only" or "entirely": Your new puppy is solely your responsibility — you have to feed it, walk it, and take care of it all by yourself. Solely comes from the Latin sola, the feminine form of "alone," and if you know other Romance languages, you'll recognize it in, for instance, Italian solo, or Spanish solamente and French seulement. In English, a solo is a song you sing alone.
Vocabulary lists containing solely
"Shooting an Elephant"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
5.4: The Second Industrial Revolution (Sources 1–8)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Regardless of what happens next, it would be hard to argue that the rally was driven solely by positioning.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026
Last year he shifted his focus solely to movies.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
These perspectives treat consciousness as a basic component of reality rather than something produced solely by the brain.
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026
As a mother of four, Grede is frank that she enjoys working and isn’t focused solely on her kids.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
“Luke, you have to understand that we are not defined solely by our choices. Even by our actions, to some extent. None of us are.”
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
