Pronunciations (14)
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/ˈoʊn.li/
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/ˈəʊn.li/
Pronunciation notes
- UK
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/ˈəʊn.i/
Pronunciation notes
- UK
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/ˈaːn.li/
Pronunciation notes
- Northumbria
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/ˈoʊn.li/
Pronunciation notes
- US
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[ˈoːn.li]
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
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[ˈɔːn.lɪ]
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- dialectal
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/ˈonli/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
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/(w)ɵnˈli/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
- dialectal
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/ˈwənli/
Pronunciation notes
- South-Asia
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/oːnlɪ/
Pronunciation notes
- Early
- Modern
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/wɔnlɪ/
Pronunciation notes
- Early
- Modern
- rare
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ˈəʊn.li
Pronunciation notes
- GB
-
ˈoʊn.li
Pronunciation notes
- US
Adjective
Alone in a category.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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This is the only key.
He is the only doctor for miles.
The only people in the stadium were the fans: no players, coaches, or officials.
More examples (3)
He was the only male in attendance at the boyband concert.
That was the only time I went to Turkey.
The San Juan market is Mexico City's most famous deli of exotic meats, where an adventurous shopper can hunt down hard-to-find critters such as ostrich, wild boar and crocodile. Only the city zoo offers greater species diversity.
Singularly superior; the best.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Motley's the only wear.
More examples (1)
But as to uſquebagh; ah long life to the liquor—it is an exhilirator of the bovvels, and a ſtomatic to the head; I ſay, Mr. Preſident, it invigorates, it ſtimulates, it—in ſhort it is the onlieſt liquor of life, and no man alive vvill die vvhilſt he drinks it.
The baron had taken a great liking to the Americans and to their ways of doing things, and frequently asserted that America was the only place to live.
More examples (1)
"People say there's other games," Jack had said to Cassie at Small Falls earlier that day. "But baseball's the only game."
Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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She is an only child.
He is their only son, in fact, an only child.
To DAD ¶ who only reared twelve children ¶ and ¶ To MOTHER ¶ who reared twelve only children
Mere.
Usage- not-comparable
- Obsolete
- Examples
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I know some who wittingly have drawne both profit and preferment from cuckoldrie, the only name whereof is so yrksome and bail-ful to so many men.
Adverb
Without others or anything further; exclusively.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Only Anna knows the answer.
More examples (1)
In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted killings, all objections were swept out of the way.
My heart is hers, and hers only.
I threw out only him.
More examples (2)
The cat sat only on the mat. It kept off the sofa.
The only scientist to have won three Nobel prizes.
No more than; just.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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It costs only five euros.
To DAD who only reared twelve children and To MOTHER who reared twelve only children
More examples (1)
‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’
[…] oot of a' six suspects there's not one that's been proved to ha' been nigh the place where the corpse was found, only Mr Graham.
More examples (3)
Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.
The cat only sat on the mat. It didn't scratch it.
If there were only one more ticket!
As recently as.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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I only just arrived.
c. 1924-1955, anonymous, The Urantia Book Only yesterday did I feed you with bread for your bodies; today I offer you the bread of life for your hungry souls.
More examples (1)
The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. The first barrels of crude fetched $18 (around $450 at today’s prices).
He left only moments ago.
Emphasizing something that is just or necessary.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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It's only fair to let him borrow your kite, after you've had his toys all day.
He'd been belittling her for years. It's only natural that she left.
Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.
Usage- UK usage
- not-comparable
- Examples
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She's only gone and run off with the milkman!
More examples (1)
The van said ‘BURT’S BURGERS’ on one side and ‘BURT’S PEST CONTROL’ on the other. Zoe stared at the van. The creepy man was only using the same vehicle for catching rats that he did for frying burgers!
Just, simply, undoubtedly.
Usage- Ireland
- Informal
- not-comparable
- Examples
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Sure you're only gorgeous!
Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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I hurried to the shop, only to find it closed.
They rallied from a three-goal deficit only to lose in the final two minutes of play.
I spent years studying a degree only to learn there was no requirement for such a certification.
More examples (2)
I helped him out only for him to betray me.
He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes to deflect his header on to the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and assistant referee Andrew Garratt waved play on, with even a succession of replays proving inconclusive.
Above all others; particularly.
Usage- not-comparable
- Obsolete
- Examples
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his most only elected mistress
Conjunction
Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations. Under the condition that; but.
Usage- Informal
- Examples
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You're welcome to borrow my bicycle, only please take care of it.
Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations. But, except; but in fact.
Usage- Informal
- Examples
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I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg.
She would get good results only she gets nervous.
More examples (3)
You look like me, only shorter.
[…] and pleasant it was, only for the dust.
And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away.
Noun
An only child.
- Examples
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Sometimes, secondborns marry onlys and the conflicts are similar.
More examples (2)
The consistent finding […] that infants who are onlies do not differ from those who have siblings despite their lesser history of exposure to differential treatment is perplexing.
And in 2016, researchers in China took MRI brain scans and found that, compared with kids with siblings, onlies showed greater flexibility—a measurement of creativity—but lower agreeableness.
Particle
Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small, undemanding or deserving of belittlement.
Usage- Singapore
- Singlish
- Synonyms
- Related words
- Examples
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Just need to replace the filter only.
More examples (1)
“No, you must listen to me,” the other replied. “I am Goh Chok Tong.” “I am the President, even bigger than you.” “President only! I am president of all the countries of the world!”
Adjective
being the only one; single and isolated from others
- Examples
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the lone doctor in the entire county
a lonesome pine
More examples (5)
an only child
the sole heir
the sole example
a solitary instance of cowardice
a solitary speck in the sky
exclusive of anyone or anything else
- Synonyms
- Examples
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she alone believed him
cannot live by bread alone
More examples (1)
I'll have this car and this car only
Adverb
and nothing more
- Examples
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I was merely asking
it is simply a matter of time
More examples (3)
just a scratch
he was only a child
hopes that last but a moment
without any others being included or involved
- Synonyms
- Examples
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was entirely to blame
a school devoted entirely to the needs of problem children
More examples (4)
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
with nevertheless the final result
- Examples
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He arrived only to find his wife dead
We won only to lose again in the next round
in the final outcome
- Examples
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These news will only make you more upset
except that
- Examples
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It was the same story; only this time she came out better
as recently as
- Examples
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I spoke to him only an hour ago