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Only

//ˈɑːn.li// adj, adv, conj, noun, particle, slang

Definitions

Adjective

1
Alone in a category. not-comparable
"He is the only doctor for miles."
2
Singularly superior; the best. not-comparable
"Motley's the only wear."
3
Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender. not-comparable
"He is their only son, in fact, an only child."
4
Mere. not-comparable, obsolete
"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."

Adjective

1
exclusive of anyone or anything else wordnet
2
being the only one; single and isolated from others wordnet

Adverb

1
Without others or anything further; exclusively. not-comparable
"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."
2
No more than; just. not-comparable
"To DAD who only reared twelve children and To MOTHER who reared twelve only children"
3
As recently as. not-comparable
"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."
4
Emphasizing something that is just or necessary. not-comparable
"It's only fair to let him borrow your kite, after you've had his toys all day."
5
Used to express surprise or consternation at an action. British, not-comparable
"She's only gone and run off with the milkman!"

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6
Just, simply, undoubtedly. Ireland, informal, not-comparable
"Sure you're only gorgeous!"
7
Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned. not-comparable
"They rallied from a three-goal deficit only to lose in the final two minutes of play."
8
Above all others; particularly. not-comparable, obsolete
"his most only elected mistress"

Adverb

1
and nothing more wordnet
2
without any others being included or involved wordnet
3
with nevertheless the final result wordnet
4
in the final outcome wordnet
5
as recently as wordnet

Show 1 more definition

6
except that wordnet

Conjunction

1
Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.; Under the condition that; but. informal
"You're welcome to borrow my bicycle, only please take care of it."
2
Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.; But, except; but in fact. informal
"I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg."

Noun

1
An only child.
"Sometimes, secondborns marry onlys and the conflicts are similar."

Particle

1
Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small, undemanding or deserving of belittlement. Singapore, Singlish
"Just need to replace the filter only."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English oonly, only, from Old English ānlīċ, ǣnlīċ (“only; singular; solitary”), from Proto-Germanic *ainalīkaz. Cognate with obsolete Dutch eenlijk, German ähnlich (“similar”), Old Norse álíkr, Swedish enlig (“unified”). By surface analysis, on(e) + -ly. * Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

Etymology 4

Etymology 5

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