 only |
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| 1. | [ adverb ] and nothing more | |
| Synonyms: | just merely simply but | |
| Examples: | "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" |
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| Related terms: | bare bare bare | |
| 2. | [ adverb ] without any others being included or involved | |
| Synonyms: | alone solely exclusively entirely | |
| Examples: | "was entirely to blame" "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" |
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| Related terms: | exclusive exclusive exclusive | |
| 3. | [ adverb ] with nevertheless the final result | |
| Examples: | "He arrived only to find his wife dead" "We won only to lose again in the next round" |
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| 4. | [ adverb ] in the final outcome | |
| Examples: | "These news will only make you more upset" |
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| 5. | [ adverb ] except that | |
| Examples: | "It was the same story only this time she came out better" |
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| 6. | [ adverb ] never except when | |
| Synonyms: | only_when only_if | |
| Examples: | "call me only if your cold gets worse" |
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| 7. | [ adjective ] being the only one; single and isolated from others | |
| Synonyms: | lonesome sole solitary lone | |
| Examples: | "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" |
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| Related terms: | single | |
| 8. | [ adverb ] as recently as | |
| Examples: | "I spoke to him only an hour ago" |
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| 9. | [ adjective ] exclusive of anyone or anything else | |
| Synonyms: | alone | |
| Examples: | "she alone believed him" "cannot live by bread alone" "I'll have this car and this car only" |
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| Related terms: | exclusive | |
| Similar spelling: |
Onley Oniel Oniell |
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