only
and nothing more
How often you will meet it
Rank 77 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 318,542 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.151% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 100 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adverb
- and nothing more also: merely, simply, just, but I was merely askingit is simply a matter of time
- without any others being included or involved also: entirely, exclusively, solely, alone was entirely to blamea school devoted entirely to the needs of problem children
- with nevertheless the final result He arrived only to find his wife deadWe won only to lose again in the next round
- in the final outcome These news will only make you more upset
- except that It was the same story; only this time she came out better
- never except when also: only if, only when call me only if your cold gets worse
adjective
- being the only one; single and isolated from others also: lone, lonesome, sole, solitary the lone doctor in the entire countya lonesome pine
only in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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But the pain, whatever it was, was only momentary.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only beauty.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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A bear's tracks had been found in that ravine only the day before.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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It means so much to them, and only forty-five can go away happy.
The Courage of the Commonplace · Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews · Chapter 1
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It cannot be that any star, Only a star, can give so great a light.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1