only 1 of 3

1
2
3
as in merely
nothing more than I was only fooling when I said I saw a shark in the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

only

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in excellent
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

only

3 of 3

conjunction

as in but
if it were not for the fact that that's a very nice idea, only it won't help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of only
Adverb
This collection not only showcases his exceptional skills as a composer and producer but also signifies a transformative phase in his evolving musical career. Ingrid Fajardo, Billboard, 14 Feb. 2025 Or does so only briefly in the ambiguous ending, when Sofia throws off the last vestiges of her passivity and forces her recalcitrant mother into a reckoning with her condition. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
The appearance of two of Drake’s exes wasn’t the only highlight of the performance but certainly helped take the feud between the two mainstream, just as Lamar is set to go on tour alongside SZA. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 11 Feb. 2025 Forward Chase Adams was the only player born in 2008 or younger to score nine goals during the 2024 campaign. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
  • The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. as the Senate was poised to discuss its final appropriation bills for the day, according to Mississippi Today.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Freshman Allie Ziebell also hit just the fifth 3-pointer of the game for UConn off the bench.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • On the other hand, Halsey’s smart, dense, often weird music has lately been overshadowed by the drama that continually dogs her.
    Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 17 Feb. 2025
  • The Pistons’ first five games after the break are tough, but their offense and defense have both been great lately.
    Zach Harper, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • The designation is merely a technicality, according to the American Presidency Project.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Rear cargo space is not class leading, merely acceptable, with 435 liters and 1,410 liters with the rear seats down.
    James Morris, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • With its affordable price, this coverlet is an excellent value for the quality.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski are excellent at carrying the ball and driving into space.
    Jay Harris, The Athletic, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Conjunction
  • But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.
    Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017
  • But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.
    Chad Graff, Twin Cities, 15 June 2017
Adverb
  • Sibyl is another stop; this industrial-style art gallery, with six-week exhibits, solely features emerging artists.
    Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The company plans to finish manufacturing its remaining 15 Atlas V rockets within a few months, allowing the factory in Decatur, Alabama, to focus solely on producing Vulcan launch vehicles.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 11 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • The episode, which aired late last year, has been viewed more than ten million times.
    Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • From an enterprise services perspective, Verizon announced a partnership with Nvidia late last year to supercharge AI workloads on 5G private networks coupled with mobile edge computing.
    Will Townsend, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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