Only
Definition
Only can function as an adverb, adjective, or conjunction. It is used to indicate exclusivity, singularity, or limitation. As an adverb, it limits the scope of a statement. As an adjective, it describes something as being the sole example. As a conjunction, it introduces a condition or exception.
Parts of Speech
- Adverb
- Adjective
- Conjunction
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈoʊn.li/
- Respelling: OHN-lee
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈəʊn.li/
- Respelling: OHN-lee
Etymology
The word "only" originates from Old English "ánlic," meaning "unique" or "singular," derived from "án" (one) and the suffix "-lic" (like). Over time, its usage broadened to include limiting or restrictive meanings in Middle English.
Derivatives
- Onliest (adjective, archaic)
- Onlyness (noun)
- Only if (phrase)
- Only just (phrase)
- Only child (noun)
Synonyms
- Merely
- Solely
- Exclusively
Antonyms
- Also
- Additionally
- Including
Usage
The term "only" is widely used to emphasize exclusivity or limitation. For example, "I only want a glass of water" (adverb), "She is the only person here" (adjective), and "You can go, only if you finish your homework" (conjunction).
Related Terms
- Sole: Being the only one.
- Exclusive: Limited to a particular group or condition.
- Unique: Being one of a kind.
Detailed Definitions
Adverb
- Used to limit the scope of a statement: Indicates exclusivity.
- Example: "I only eat vegetarian food."
- Recently or just now: Refers to something that has happened in the near past.
- Example: "She has only arrived."
Adjective
- Being the sole one of its kind: Describes something as unique or singular.
- Example: "He was the only person to pass the exam."
Conjunction
- Indicating a condition or exception: Connects clauses where one depends on the other.
- Example: "I would come, only I have another appointment."
only
I only eat vegetarian food.
She has only arrived.
He was the only person to pass the exam.
🇨🇳 Mandarin Chinese
- "只有" (Zhǐyǒu) – in the sense of "only have"
- Pronunciation: /ʈʂʐ̩˧˥jɔʊ˧˥/
- Respelling: "zhee-you"
- "唯一的" (Wéiyī de) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /weɪ˧˥iː˧˥ dɤ/
- Respelling: "way-ee duh"
🇮🇳 Hindi
- "केवल" (Kewal) – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /keːʋl/
- Respelling: "ke-val"
- "सिर्फ" (Sirf) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /sɪɾf/
- Respelling: "surf"
🇪🇸 Spanish
- "Sólo" – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /ˈsolo/
- Respelling: "so-lo"
- "Único" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /ˈuniko/
- Respelling: "oo-nee-ko"
🇫🇷 French
- "Seulement" – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /sœlmɑ̃/
- Respelling: "seul-mahn"
- "Unique" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /ynik/
- Respelling: "yoo-neek"
🇸🇦 Arabic (Modern Standard)
- "فقط" (Faqat) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /faqat/
- Respelling: "fa-qat"
- "الوحيد" (Al-waḥīd) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /alwaħiːd/
- Respelling: "al-wa-heed"
🇧🇩 Bengali
- "শুধু" (Shudhu) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /ʃud̪ʱu/
- Respelling: "shu-dhu"
- "একমাত্র" (Ekamatra) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /ekamat̪ra/
- Respelling: "eka-ma-tra"
🇷🇺 Russian
- "только" (Tol'ko) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /ˈtolʲkə/
- Respelling: "tol-ka"
- "единственный" (Yedinstvennyy) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /jɪˈdʲinstvʲɪnːɨj/
- Respelling: "ye-dinst-ven-nyi"
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- "Só" – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /ˈso/
- Respelling: "so"
- "Único" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /ˈuniku/
- Respelling: "oo-nee-ku"
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- "Hanya" – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /'haɲa/
- Respelling: "ha-nya"
- "Satu-satunya" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /'satuː'satuːɲa/
- Respelling: "sa-too-sa-too-nya"
🇩🇪 German
- "Nur" – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /nuːɐ̯/
- Respelling: "noo-r"
- "Einzig" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /ˈaɪ̯nt͡sɪç/
- Respelling: "aint-sich"
🇯🇵 Japanese
- "だけ" (Dake) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /da.ke/
- Respelling: "da-ke"
- "唯一の" (Yuiitsu no) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /jɯː.i.t͡sɯ.no/
- Respelling: "yoo-ee-tsu no"
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- "Chỉ" – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /t͡ɕi˧˥/
- Respelling: "chi"
- "Duy nhất" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /zʊj˨˩ ɲat̚˦˥/
- Respelling: "zuy nyat"
🇰🇷 Korean
- "만" (Man) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /man/
- Respelling: "man"
- "유일한" (Yuilhan) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /ju.il̚.han/
- Respelling: "yoo-il-han"
🇹🇷 Turkish
- "Sadece" – in the sense of "only, solely"
- Pronunciation: /saˈdetʃe/
- Respelling: "sa-de-je"
- "Tek" – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /tek/
- Respelling: "tek"
🇵🇰 Urdu
- "صرف" (Sirf) – in the sense of "only, just"
- Pronunciation: /sɪrf/
- Respelling: "sirf"
- "واحد" (Wāḥid) – in the sense of "the only one"
- Pronunciation: /waːhɪd/
- Respelling: "waa-hid"
