Synonyms for only
ˈoʊn lion·ly

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. onlyadjective

   Alone in a category.

   my heart is hers, and hers only

   Synonyms:
   sole, lone

2. onlyadverb

   no more than; just

   if there were only one more ticket!

   Synonyms:
   nonpareil, unequaled, peerless

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. only

   But ranges from the faintest contrast to absolute negation; as, I am willing to go, but (on the other hand) content to stay; he is not an honest man, but (on the contrary) a villain. The contrast may be with a silent thought; as, but let us go (it being understood that we might stay longer). In restrictive use, except and excepting are slightly more emphatic than but; we say, no injury but a scratch; or, no injury except some painful bruises. Such expressions as "words are but breath" (nothing but) may be referred to the restrictive use by ellipsis. So may the use of but in the sense of unless; as, "it never rains but it pours." To the same head must be referred the conditional use; as, "you may go, but with your father's consent" (i. e., "provided you have," "except that you must have," etc.). "Doubt but" is now less used than the more logical "doubt that." But never becomes a full synonym for and; and adds something like, but adds something different; "brave and tender" implies that tenderness is natural to the brave; "brave but tender" implies that bravery and tenderness are rarely combined. For the concessive use, compare NOTWITHSTANDING.

   Synonyms:
   and, barely, besides, but, except, further, however, just, merely, moreover, nevertheless, notwithstanding, notwithstanding, provided, save, still, that, tho, unless, yet

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. onlyadjective

   Synonyms:
   single, sole, alone, solitary

   Antonyms:
   many, together, mixed

2. only

   Synonyms:
   solely, singly, merely, simply, barely

   Antonyms:
   among, amongst, together, collectively

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. lone(a), lonesome(a), only(a), sole(a), solitary(a)adjective

   being the only one; single and isolated from others

   "the lone doctor in the entire county"; "a lonesome pine"; "an only child"; "the sole heir"; "the sole example"; "a solitary instance of cowardice"; "a solitary speck in the sky"

   Antonyms:
   inclusive, multiple

2. alone(p), onlyadverb

   exclusive of anyone or anything else

   "she alone believed him"; "cannot live by bread alone"; "I'll have this car and this car only"

   Antonyms:
   inclusive, multiple

3. merely, simply, just, only, butadverb

   and nothing more

   "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"

   Synonyms:
   solely, plainly, hardly, alone, barely, exclusively, only if, but, entirely, just, scarce, just now, simply, merely, precisely, only when, exactly, scarcely

   Antonyms:
   multiple, inclusive

4. entirely, exclusively, solely, alone, onlyadverb

   without any others being included or involved

   "was entirely to blame"; "a school devoted entirely to the needs of problem children"; "he works for Mr. Smith exclusively"; "did it solely for money"; "the burden of proof rests on the prosecution alone"; "a privilege granted only to him"

   Synonyms:
   solely, exclusively, whole, entirely, unaccompanied, completely, alone, altogether, only if, but, simply, wholly, just, all, merely, only when, totally, solo

   Antonyms:
   multiple, inclusive

5. onlyadverb

   with nevertheless the final result

   "He arrived only to find his wife dead"; "We won only to lose again in the next round"

   Synonyms:
   just, only if, simply, merely, entirely, solely, but, exclusively, only when, alone

   Antonyms:
   inclusive, multiple

6. onlyadverb

   in the final outcome

   "These news will only make you more upset"

   Synonyms:
   just, only if, simply, merely, entirely, solely, but, exclusively, only when, alone

   Antonyms:
   multiple, inclusive

7. onlyadverb

   except that

   "It was the same story; only this time she came out better"

   Synonyms:
   just, only if, simply, merely, entirely, solely, but, exclusively, only when, alone

   Antonyms:
   inclusive, multiple

8. only, only if, only whenadverb

   never except when

   "call me only if your cold gets worse"

   Synonyms:
   just, only if, simply, merely, entirely, solely, but, exclusively, only when, alone

   Antonyms:
   inclusive, multiple

9. onlyadverb

   as recently as

   "I spoke to him only an hour ago"

   Synonyms:
   just, only if, simply, merely, entirely, solely, but, exclusively, only when, alone

   Antonyms:
   inclusive, multiple

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. onlyadjective

   Synonyms:
   sole, solitary, alone, single, this and no other

2. onlyadjective

   Synonyms:
   merely, barely, simply, and nothing else

3. onlyadjective

   Synonyms:
   solely, singly

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "only":

   just, alone, solely, single, merely, sole, simply, exclusively, unique, mere, solo, purely, jen, that, len, lonely, barely, seulement, but, do, nur, vain, not, lone, exclusive, own, unattached, limited

Suggested Resources

1. ONLY

   What does ONLY stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the ONLY acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

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How to use only in a sentence?

1. Todd Daniels:

   There is over $1 billion in aid every year that goes to Egypt, and these dollars must remain linked to progress that is made on Egypt's human rights record, egypt has a crucial role to play in countering violent extremism in the Middle East, but blasphemy cases onfrivolouscharges like this only increase the grip of extremists.

2. Rick Ector:

   We are at war with the wicked: rapists, murderers, home-invaders, and robbers. There are no bystanders - only victims.

3. Link Starbureiy:

   There are only two ways to look at history: people either make things happen, or they let things happen. In that sense, all of history is bipolar; cognate of goodwill and bad fortune. Both philosophies, together, importune a reshaping of destiny.

4. Regulator Affairs Dr. Nathan Rose:

   So, mosquito-borne disease is a thing in the U.S., and it's likely to get worse in the future as a result of climate change [and] as these mosquitoes kind of move farther and farther northfrom the Gulf Coast into more and more of the continental U.S., so, the diseases are a big problem because these particular diseases don't have any effective vaccines or medications to treat them [and] the only way to control them is actually to control the mosquitoes that spread them...

5. John McCain:

   With Sen. Lindsey Graham's announcement, Republicans lost our most qualified, thoughtful, fearless and honest presidential candidate, not to mention the candidate with the best (and it seemed sometimes the only) sense of humor, as sorry as I am to see Lindsey's candidacy end, I understand his reasons, and I'm as proud of him as I've ever been for his exemplary service to our party and our country.