What does “only” mean?
- 1
adverbno more than, or nobody or nothing else
It only takes ten minutes to walk there.
- 2
adjectiveused to say there is just one or a few of something
She’s the only person who knows the answer.
Only at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb & adjective
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈoʊnli/ · OHN-lee
How to use “only” correctly
The position of “only” changes the meaning: “Only I saw her” vs. “I only saw her” vs. “I saw only her.”
Common phrases with “only”
- only child
- not only… but also
- if only
- the only one
Synonyms, opposites and related words
“only” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- too adverbA1more than is needed or wanted
- very adverbA1to a high degree; used to make adjectives and adverbs stronger
- add verbA1to put something together with something else
- all determinerA1the whole number or amount of something
- almost adverbA2very nearly but not completely
- any determinerA1some; used in questions and negative sentences
- best adjectiveA1better than all others
- better adjectiveA1of a higher standard or more suitable than something else