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
The European Union supplies only nonlethal equipment. Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 2 June 2025 Overall, Mercedes only scored 18 points in those three weeks, all of which came via Russell, and now, Ferrari has passed it for second in the constructors standings. Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Adjective
First, as Jencks never tired of pointing out, pluralism is the only true majority politics. Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 1 June 2025 The only way in was through the resale market, where just hours before first pitch on Friday, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of tickets on StubHub was $209.52. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
  • On Monday night, there was no double-overtime – just one extra frame this time – and there was no goal overturned as the Frost beat the Ottawa Charge 2-1 to repeat as Walter Cup Champions, this time in front of 11,024 fans at the Xcel Energy Center.
    Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • The first memorial day wasn't called Memorial Day Decoration Day, May 30, 1868, was held at Arlington National Cemetery, which was just one of 74 national cemeteries established after the Civil War.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Adverb
  • The two admired the rapper's car collection as 2 Chainz explained his love for a certain Tesla model that has been under scrutiny lately.
    Charles Singh, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • Why Are More Americans Interested In Dual Citizenship? Marshall has also noticed a clear trend of more Americans, especially those with significant assets, applying for dual citizenship lately.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
Adverb
  • Is suffering an objective phenomenon, or merely a subjective experience?
    Francis Hellyer, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • The network also has denied that the 60 Minutes edits were deceptive and merely made for time constraints, noting that the first part of Harris’ answer was shown on the Face the Nation preview and the second for the show’s broadcast.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Amazon The latest MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent, lightweight laptop.
    Brenda Stolyar, Wired News, 24 May 2025
  • The enchanting espionage comedy flaunts an excellent Benicio del Toro as a 1950s industrialist, who, after surviving an attempt on his life, names his estranged daughter Liesl (Mia Threapleton) as heir to his empire.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 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
  • But the problem is the quality of education that the students receive, when they are rushed through the pipeline, with no time to focus on themselves, solely concentrated on productivity and employability, to pay back their debt.
    Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2025
  • With an Apple account solely dedicated to your Apple TV box and Apple TV hardware and software tracking disabled as much as possible, Apple would have minimal data to ascribe to you as an Apple TV owner.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 June 2025
Adverb
  • But the tide started to turn against Isaacman late this past week, with the first rumblings of problems coming on Friday, May 30.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 31 May 2025
  • While Buffalo already has an elite roster capable of competing for a championship, the team is now being urged to consider making a major move late in NFL free agency.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on only

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!