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Glite Dictionary
1️⃣ No more than 👤 Single one ⚠️ Except that 🕒 As recently as
only

only

∞ 1.0
No more than the thing or person mentioned
  • adverb
  • /ˈoʊnli/
translation icon : solo
  • Last time I saw him, he only had four sons.
  • only one
  • only a few
  • only 3 percent

Or perhaps the noise only comes out with rage.

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Examples

  • Look, there's only one way of dealing with this.

    Sleuth (1972)

  • And it's a choice only you get to make.

  • Remember, you can only do right by me.

  • You must deal only with the truth.

  • But now, at this moment, he only had eyes for me.

  • I think that there are two and only two answers to this question.

  • Look, Amy, we only get one chance to break the States.

    Back to Black (2024)

  • And you will be loyal to only me.

    Jacket (2018)

  • No, this is only a minor setback.

    AlieNation (2022)

  • You can only have one slice of cake after dinner.

Synonyms

just
vsonly
∞ 1.0

Only the person, thing, or amount mentioned

limits to one or none but is more general than precise amount focus
simply
vsonly
∞ 1.0

You say this when something is only what is said, nothing more

limits to one or none rather than focusing on plain explanation
nothing but
vsonly
∞ 1.5

Only, not anything else

limits to one or none rather than denying extra items
merely
vsonly
836 3.1

Only and nothing more

limits to one or none rather than stressing minimal description
alone
vsonly
734 1.0

Only, not including any other person or thing

limits to one or none rather than stressing solitude or exclusivity
solely
vsonly
241 4.0

Only, not involving anyone or anything else

limits to one or none rather than stressing single-agent involvement
exclusively
vsonly
191 3.3

In a way that includes no other people or things

limits to one or none without the strong exclusion emphasis
one and only
vsonly
65 3.9

A single person or thing that is special and has no equal

limits to one or none without stressing uniqueness or specialness

Antonyms

all
∞ 1.0

Everything in a group or the whole amount of something

many
9 1.0

A large number of people or things you can count

Idioms

one and only
65 3.9

A single person or thing that is special and has no equal

the only way out
36 4.0

A single choice to escape a place or situation

if only
31 3.0

To wish the past had been different because you regret it

only too
28 6.5

Very much more than expected or wanted

in name only
9 6.1

A title with no real power or duties

the only constant
2 5.7

Something that stays the same while everything else changes

worth only a nickel
  • Archaic
6.9

It has very little value

Compounds

eyes-only
  • Formal
6 9.3

A document that only the person who receives it may read

read-only memory
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A small computer chip that holds information you can use but cannot change

compact disc read-only memory
  • Specialized
3.9

A CD for computers that holds data you cannot change

erasable programmable read-only memory
  • Specialized
7.7

A chip you clear with ultraviolet light and then write new information on it

read-only file
  • Specialized
3.9

A file you can open and view but cannot change or delete

read-only memory chip
  • Specialized
3.7

A small computer chip that stores data you cannot change

read-only storage
  • Specialized
4.3

A part of a computer where information can be looked at but not changed

How Exclusive

exclusively
191 3.3
solely
241 4.0
only
∞ 1.0
just
∞ 1.0
merely
836 3.1

Surface Forms

only positive

Etymology

Only comes from the idea of one plus the ending -ly, so it originally meant 'one' or 'alone'. So when you say only you limit something to just that one thing — 'no more than'.