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Definitions

only

[ohn-lee] / ˈoʊn li /
ADJECTIVE
singular
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alone
WEAK
apart by oneself exclusive individual isolated lone matchless once in a lifetime one one and only one-shot particular peerless single sole solitary solo unaccompanied unequaled unique unparalleled unrivaled
ADVERB
barely; exclusively
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alone entirely hardly merely particularly purely simply solely
STRONG
but just
WEAK
at most nothing but plainly totally uniquely utterly wholly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
incompletely indefinitely

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.

American consumers paid an average $3.64 a gallon in March, with only about 60 cents of that made up of federal and state taxes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

Collins acknowledged that it was possible to fill the reservoir with nonpotable water, but it would only cause further delays.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

He added that under civil service guidance he would not have been allowed to tell the prime minister about details of the vetting, only his final decision on the case.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

But this isn’t the only lever available to regulators, and not even the most important one.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

It would be Clare’s only chance to save her.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman