only

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Alone in a category.

   • He is the only doctor for miles.
   • The only people in the stadium were the fans: no players, coaches, or officials.
   • He was the only male in attendance at the boyband concert.
2. 2

   Singularly superior

   Singularly superior; the best.

   • Motley's the only wear.
   • 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.
3. 3

   Without sibling

   Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.

   • 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
4. ›+ 12 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Mere.

      • 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.
   2. 5

      Without others or anything further

      Without others or anything further; exclusively.

      • My heart is hers, and hers only.
      • I threw out only him.
   3. 6

      No more than

      No more than; just.

      • To DAD who only reared twelve children and To MOTHER who reared twelve only children
      • ‘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.
   4. 7

      As recently as.

      • 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.
      • He left only moments ago.
   5. 8

      Emphasizing something that is just or necessary.

      • 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.
   6. 9

      Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.

      • She's only gone and run off with the milkman!
      • 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!
   7. 10

      Just, simply, undoubtedly.

      • Sure you're only gorgeous!
   8. 11

      Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously…

      Introduces a disappointing or surprising outcome that renders futile something previously mentioned.

      • 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.
      • I helped him out only for him to betray me.
   9. 12

      Above all others

      Above all others; particularly.

      • his most only elected mistress
   10. 13

       Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's…

       Introduces a clause with negative polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.

       • You're welcome to borrow my bicycle, only please take care of it.
   11. 14

       An only child.

       • Sometimes, secondborns marry onlys and the conflicts are similar.
       • 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.
   12. 15

       Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small,…

       Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small, undemanding or deserving of belittlement.

       • Just need to replace the filter only.
       • “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!”

The neighborhood

• neighborclient-only
• neighborserver-only
• neighborif only