Only

How to spell only

4 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce only

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does only mean?

1. adverbAnd no one or nothing more; merely or no more than.
2. adjectiveBeing the single one of its kind; sole.

Only in a sentence

• adverb

  The shop accepts only cash, so bring some with you.

• adjective

  This is the only key that opens the back door.

• adverb

  She had only five minutes to finish the report.

• adjective

  He was the only candidate qualified for the role.

Where does only come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

The word descends from the Old English anlic, later contracted to onlic and then only, which was formed from an, meaning 'one', and the suffix -lic, meaning 'like' or 'having the form of'. So at its root only literally meant 'one-like' or 'singular', the quality of being the single one of its kind. Over the medieval period the spelling lost the long vowel of an even though the pronunciation kept it, which is why the word looks as though it should rhyme with 'on' but is actually pronounced with a long 'o'. The same an root that gives us 'one' also sits quietly inside only, alone, and atone, all of which carry that idea of a single thing. By the late Middle Ages only had broadened from the adjective sense of 'sole' into the adverb sense of 'merely' or 'no more than', which is now its most frequent use in everyday writing.

How the word is built

• on- (from Old English an: one)
• -ly (adverb/adjective suffix meaning 'like' or 'in the manner of')