Synonyms for

Only

Verb / ˈəʊnli: / Another word for only — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

used to indicate that no more than one person or thing is involved or that something is restricted to the specified thing or person and no other.

Synonyms & similar words

lonesome solitary solely simply just but lone onlywhen onlyif exclusively merely entirely sole alone alone solely exclusively simply merely just barely scarcely hardly but strictly purely absolutely completely entirely sole unique individual distinctive

Synonyms by register

Formal

solely exclusively merely purely

Informal

just simply all that

Literary

alone but

Antonyms

all many numerous abundant plentiful multiple various

Common collocations

  • only child
  • only too happy
  • only just
  • only then
  • only if
  • only one
  • only way

Word family

adverb only

Usage note

Often used as an adverb, but can also function as a conjunction. Be mindful of placement to avoid ambiguity.

Example sentences

  1. I can only eat one piece of cake.
  2. You can only have one toy from the toy box.
  3. We only have five minutes left to play.
  4. The store only has small sizes left in stock.
  5. He was only pretending to be scared.

Quotes

  • The only way to do great work is to love what you do. - Steve Jobs
  • The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. - Socrates
  • The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke

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