Only | Mean of only in English Dictionary

/ˈoʊnli/

• alone in a class or category
1. He's the only [=one] man I've ever loved.
2. They were the only people to survive the crash.
3. You're not the only one who's worried about the future. [=other people are also worried about the future]
4. You're the only person I trust.
5. my only true friend
6. He was her only brother.
7. What a shame, your party is on the only day I can't come!
8. Mondays are Kim's only days off from work.
9. This is the only cleaning product you'll ever need!
10. Keeping you safe is our only [=sole] concern.
11. That was the only reason I didn't take the job.
12. The only way out is through that window.
13. It's the only possible answer. = It's the only answer possible.
14. The only thing left for us to do is wait. [=there is nothing else we can do but wait]
15. (informally) I can probably come Friday. The only thing [=the one problem] is that my car is in the shop.
16. It's the first and only drug of its kind.
• one of very few
1. That was one of the only times I ever saw my father cry.
2. This is one of the only places in the world where the plant is found.
• no more than
1. They lost only [=just, merely] one game this season.
2. I've met him only once. = I've only met him once.
3. She had been there only twice in her life.
4. We have only five minutes to get there. = We only have five minutes to get there.
5. There are only two more weeks until summer vacation.
6. It's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
7. Do you really have to leave? It's only eight o'clock.
8. He was only a baby when his father died.
9. Leave her alone. She's only a kid.
10. The building is only about 10 years old.
11. She plays several instruments including the guitar, violin, and piano, to name only [=but] a few.
12. It was quiet in the room, but only for a moment.
13. She is only partly/partially to blame.

• nothing other than
1. I asked him a question, but he only smiled in response.
2. I'm happy to help. You only have/need to ask. = (more formally) You have only to ask. = (more formally) You need only ask. [=I will gladly help you if you ask me to]
3. We can only guess/imagine/wonder [=we cannot know] what they will do next.
4. One can only hope for the best. [=there is nothing to do but hope for the best]
• excluding all others
1. The club is for women only.
2. The sign on the door says “Employees Only.”
3. Only employees can use that door.
4. I love only you and no one else.
5. She said only that she knew him. [=she said nothing other than that she knew him]
6. The storm destroyed the house leaving only a pile of rubble.
7. That sound can mean only one thing. = That sound can only mean one thing.
8. Only the strongest will survive.
9. Only the best fabric will do. [=I want nothing except the best fabric]
10. The restaurant serves only vegetarian cuisine.
11. For reasons known only to her/herself, she sold her house and left town.
• in no time, place, or situation except the one specified
1. Violence should be used only as a last resort. = Violence should only be used as a last resort.
2. It should be used only when (it's) absolutely necessary.
3. Only then did I realize that I had made a mistake.
4. The animal is found only on the continent of Australia.
5. Only in America can such things happen! [=such things cannot happen anywhere but in America]
6. The drug is available only by prescription. = The drug is available by prescription only.
7. I'll go only if he goes with me. = (more strongly) I'll go if and only if he goes with me.
8. We made the change only after careful consideration of the consequences.
• for no other reason than
1. I came here only because she asked me to.
2. only for the sake of argument
• nothing more important or serious than
1. It was only [=just, merely] a minor accident. No one got hurt.
2. I'm fine. It's only a scratch.
3. “Who was that on the phone?” “Oh, it was only a salesperson.”
4. I didn't hit him. I only touched him!
5. She didn't mean to insult you. She was only joking!
6. They were only following orders.
• very or completely
1. He knew only too well [=he knew very well] what it meant to go to war.
2. They were only too ready to give up and go home.