Meaning & Definition of Only in English

1. Being the only one

• Single and isolated from others

• "The lone doctor in the entire county"

• "A lonesome pine"

• "An only child"

• "The sole heir"

• "The sole example"

• "A solitary instance of cowardice"

• "A solitary speck in the sky"

2. Exclusive of anyone or anything else

• "She alone believed him"

• "Cannot live by bread alone"

• "I'll have this car and this car only"

1. And nothing more

• "I was merely asking"

• "It is simply a matter of time"

• "Just a scratch"

• "He was only a child"

• "Hopes that last but a moment"

2. Without any others being included or involved

• "Was entirely to blame"

• "A school devoted entirely to the needs of problem children"

• "He works for mr. smith exclusively"

• "Did it solely for money"

• "The burden of proof rests on the prosecution alone"

• "A privilege granted only to him"

3. With nevertheless the final result

• "He arrived only to find his wife dead"

• "We won only to lose again in the next round"

4. In the final outcome

• "These news will only make you more upset"

5. Except that

• "It was the same story

• Only this time she came out better"

6. Never except when

• "Call me only if your cold gets worse"

7. As recently as

• "I spoke to him only an hour ago"