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only

 - 4 dictionary results

on⋅ly

  [ohn-lee]
Use only in a Sentence
–adverb
1. without others or anything further; alone; solely; exclusively: This information is for your eyes only.
2. no more than; merely; just: If it were only true! I cook only on weekends.
3. as recently as: I read that article only yesterday.
4. in the final outcome or decision: You will only regret your harsh words to me.
–adjective
5. being the single one or the relatively few of the kind: This is the only pencil I can find.
6. having no sibling or no sibling of the same sex: an only child; an only son.
7. single in superiority or distinction; unique; the best: the one and only Muhammad Ali.
–conjunction
8. but (introducing a single restriction, restraining circumstance, or the like): I would have gone, only you objected.
9. Older Use. except; but: Only for him you would not be here.
—Idiom
10. only too,
a. as a matter of fact; extremely: I am only too glad to go.
b. unfortunately; very: It is only too likely to happen.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE ānlich, ǣnlich. See one, -ly

Synonyms:
5. solitary, lone. 7. peerless; exclusive.

Antonyms:
5. plentiful, common.

Usage note:
The placement of only as a modifier is more a matter of style and clarity than of grammatical rule. In a sentence like The doctor examined the children, varying the placement of only results in quite different meanings: The doctor only examined the children means that the doctor did nothing else. And The doctor examined only the children means that no one else was examined. Especially in formal writing, the placement of only immediately before what it modifies is often observed: She sold the stock only because she needed the money. However, there has long been a tendency in all varieties of speech and writing to place only before the verb (She only sold the stock because she needed the money), and such placement is rarely confusing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To only
on·ly   (ōn'lē)   
adj.  

  1. Alone in kind or class; sole: an only child; the only one left.

  2. Standing alone by reason of superiority or excellence.

adv.  

  1. Without anyone or anything else; alone: room for only one passenger.

    1. At the very least: If you would only come home. The story was only too true.

    2. And nothing else or more: I only work here.

    3. In the last analysis or final outcome: actions that will only make things worse.

    4. With the final result; nevertheless: received a raise only to be laid off.

    5. As recently as: called me only last month.

    6. In the immediate past: only just saw them.

  3. Exclusively; solely: facts known only to us.

    1. In the last analysis or final outcome: actions that will only make things worse.

    2. With the final result; nevertheless: received a raise only to be laid off.

    3. As recently as: called me only last month.

    4. In the immediate past: only just saw them.

    1. As recently as: called me only last month.

    2. In the immediate past: only just saw them.

conj.  

  1. Were it not that; except.

    1. With the restriction that; but: You may go, only be careful.

    2. However; and yet: The merchandise is well made, only we can't use it.


[Middle English, from Old English ānlīc : ān, one; see one + -līc, having the form of; see -ly1.]
Usage Note: When used as an adverb, only should be placed with care to avoid ambiguity. Generally this means having only adjoin the word or words that it limits. Variation in the placement of only can change the meaning of the sentence, as the following examples show: Dictators respect only force; they are not moved by words. Dictators only respect force; they do not worship it. She picked up the receiver only when he entered, not before. She only picked up the receiver when he entered; she didn't dial the number. Though strict grammarians insist that the rule for placement of only should always be followed, there are occasions when placement of only earlier in the sentence seems much more natural, and if the context is sufficiently clear, there is no chance of being misunderstood. In the following example only is placed according to the rule: The committee can make its decision by Friday of next week only if it receives a copy of the latest report. Placement of only earlier in the sentence, immediately after can, would warn the reader that a condition on the statement follows. See Usage Note at not.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

only 
O.E. ænlic, anlic "only, unique, solitary," lit. "one-like," from an "one" (see one) + -lic "-ly." Distinction of only and alone (now usually in ref. to emotional states) is unusual; in many languages the same word serves for both. Ger. also has a distinction in allein/einzig. Phrase only-begotten (1450) is biblical, translating L. unigenitus, Gk. monogenes. The O.E. form was ancenned.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

only

In addition to the idioms beginning with only, also see beauty is only skin deep; have an eye (eyes only) for; if only; in name only; not the only fish in the sea; one and only

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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