Alternative forms

• onely, onlie (both obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#ONLYCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#ONLY oonly, only, from Old EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Old English#ONLYCategory:English terms derived from Old English#ONLY ānlīċ, ǣnlīċ (“only; singular; solitary”), from Proto-GermanicCategory:English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic#ONLYCategory:English terms derived from Proto-Germanic#ONLY *ainalīkaz. Cognate with obsolete Dutch eenlijk, German ähnlich (“similar”), Old Norse álíkr, Swedish enlig (“unified”). By surface analysis, on(e) +‎ -lyCategory:English terms suffixed with -ly (adjectival)#ONLY.

• Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈəʊn.li/, (in fast speech) /ˈəʊn.i/Category:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY
  • (Northumbria) IPA^(key): /ˈɑːn.li/Category:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#ONLY
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈoʊn.li/Category:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#ONLY
• (Canada) IPA^(key): [ˈoːn.li], (dialectal) [ˈɔːn.lɪ]Category:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY
• (Indic) IPA^(key): /ˈonli/, (dialectal) /(w)ɵnˈli/, /ˈwənli/ ("one-ly")^[1]Category:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English 2-syllable words#ONLYCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY
• Hyphenation: on‧ly
• Rhymes: -əʊnliCategory:Rhymes:English/əʊnli#ONLYCategory:Rhymes:English/əʊnli/2 syllables#ONLY

Adjective

only (not comparable)Category:English lemmas#ONLYCategory:English adjectives#ONLYCategory:English uncomparable adjectives#ONLYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ONLYCategory:Pages with entries#ONLYCategory:Pages with 2 entries#ONLY

1. Alone in a category.

   Synonyms: lone, sole; see also Thesaurus:sole

   He is the only doctor for miles.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   The only people in the stadium were the fans: no players, coaches, or officials.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   He was the only male in attendance at the boyband concert.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   That was the only time I went to Turkey.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   • 2013 July 26, Nick Miroff, “Mexico gets a taste for eating insects […]”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 32:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

2. Singularly superior; the best.

   Synonyms: nonpareil, peerless, unequaled; see also Thesaurus:unique

   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     Motley's the only wear.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   • 1762, [Samuel] Foote, The Orators. […], Dublin: […] Thomas Richey, […], →OCLC, Act III, page 54:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   • 1888, United States. Department of State, Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, page 316:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   • 2015, Mike Lupica, The Only Game, →ISBN, pages 58–59:

     "People say there's other games," Jack had said to Cassie at Small Falls earlier that day. "But baseball's the only game."

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

3. Without sibling; without a sibling of the same gender.

   He is their only son, in fact, an only child.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   • 1949, Frank B[unker] Gilbreth, Jr., Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen, dedication:

     To DAD ¶ who only reared twelve children ¶ and ¶ To MOTHER ¶ who reared twelve only children

4. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#ONLY) Mere.

   Synonyms: alone, simple, very; see also Thesaurus:mere

   • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 40, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

Adverb

only (not comparable)Category:English lemmas#ONLYCategory:English adverbs#ONLYCategory:English uncomparable adverbs#ONLYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ONLYCategory:Pages with entries#ONLYCategory:Pages with 2 entries#ONLY

1. Without others or anything further; exclusively.
   • 2013 June 7, Ed Pilkington, “‘Killer robots’ should be banned in advance, UN told”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 6:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   My heart is hers, and hers only.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   I threw out only him.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   The cat sat only on the mat. It kept off the sofa.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   The only scientist to have won three Nobel prizes.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

2. No more than; just.
   • 1949, Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen, dedication:

     To DAD

     who only reared twelve children

     and

     To MOTHER

     who reared twelve only children

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     ‘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.’

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   • 1931, Dorothy L Sayers, chapter 24, in The Five Red Herrings:

     […] 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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
   • 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   The cat only sat on the mat. It didn't scratch it.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   If there were only one more ticket!Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

3. 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.

   • 2013 August 3, “Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847:

     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).

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   He left only moments ago.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

4. 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.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   He'd been belittling her for years. It's only natural that she left.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

6. (BritishCategory:British English#ONLY) Used to express surprise or consternation at an action.

   She's only gone and run off with the milkman!

   Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   • 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

     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!

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

7. (IrelandCategory:Irish English#ONLY, informalCategory:English informal terms#ONLY) Just, simply, undoubtedly.

   Sure you're only gorgeous!Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

9. 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.

   Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   I spent years studying a degree only to learn there was no requirement for such a certification.

   Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   I helped him out only for him to betray me.

   Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   • 2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport‎:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

10. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#ONLY) Above all others; particularly.
    • 1604 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], Parasitaster, or The Fawne, […], London: […] T[homas] P[urfoot] for W[illiam] C[otton], published 1606, →OCLC, (please specify the page):

      his most only elected mistress

      Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

Conjunction

onlyCategory:English lemmas#ONLYCategory:English conjunctions#ONLYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ONLYCategory:Pages with entries#ONLYCategory:Pages with 2 entries#ONLY

1. (informalCategory:English informal terms#ONLY, clause-initial) Introduces a clause with negative polarityCategory:Pages linking to anchors not found in Appendix:Glossary#polarity, often one which upsets the listener's expectations.
   1. Under the condition that; but. (clarification of this definition is needed)Category:Requests for clarification of definitions in English entries#ONLY

      You're welcome to borrow my bicycle, only please take care of it.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   2. But, except; but in fact. (clarification of this definition is needed)Category:Requests for clarification of definitions in English entries#ONLY

      I would enjoy running, only I have this broken leg.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

      She would get good results only she gets nervous.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

      You look like me, only shorter.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

      • 1664 April 22, The Diary of Samuel Pepys:

        […] and pleasant it was, only for the dust.

        Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

      • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 8:28:

        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.

        Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

Noun

only (plural onlys or onlies)Category:English lemmas#ONLYCategory:English nouns#ONLYCategory:English countable nouns#ONLYCategory:English nouns with irregular plurals#ONLYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ONLYCategory:Pages with entries#ONLYCategory:Pages with 2 entries#ONLY

1. An only child.
   • 1995, Don Martin, Maggie Martin, Pat Jeffers, Is Your Family Making You Fat?, page 101:

     Sometimes, secondborns marry onlys and the conflicts are similar.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

   • 2013, Sybil L. Hart, Maria Legerstee, Handbook of Jealousy:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

     Category:Quotation templates to be cleaned
   • 2022 November 1, Chiara Dello Joio, “Why Are People Weird About Only Children?”, in The Atlantic‎:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

Particle

onlyCategory:English lemmas#ONLYCategory:English particles#ONLYCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#ONLYCategory:Pages with entries#ONLYCategory:Pages with 2 entries#ONLY

1. (SingaporeCategory:Singapore English#ONLY, SinglishCategory:Singlish#ONLY) Placed at the end of a sentence to emphasize that something is trivial, small, undemanding or deserving of belittlement.

   Synonyms: that's all, (Singlish) nia

   Just need to replace the filter only.Category:English terms with usage examples#ONLY

   • 2022, Daren Shiau, chapter VIII, in Heartland, Ethos Books, →ISBN:

     “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!”

     Category:English terms with quotations#ONLY

References

Further reading

• “only”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• Lyon, lyon, noyl, ynol

Alternative forms

• onli, onlych, onelich, oonly
• anly, anely (Northern)

Etymology

From Old EnglishCategory:Middle English terms inherited from Old English#ONLYCategory:Middle English terms derived from Old English#ONLY ānlīċ, a form of ǣnlīċ; equivalent to on (“one”) +‎ -lyCategory:Middle English terms suffixed with -ly (adjectival)#ONLY.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɔ̝ːnliː/Category:Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY
• IPA^(key): /ˈaːnliː/ (Northern)Category:Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation#ONLY

Adjective

onlyCategory:Middle English lemmas#ONLYCategory:Middle English adjectives#ONLYCategory:Middle English entries with incorrect language header#ONLYCategory:Pages with entries#ONLYCategory:Pages with 2 entries#ONLY

1. alone, apart
2. only, sole, unique
3. peerless, singular