英语词汇“only”的释义、区别辨析及用法例句-英语同义词词典

单词

only

例句

adjective | adverb

onlyonly1 /ˈoʊnli/ adjective ► only

used for saying that there is not more than one person or thing of a particular kind:

There were seven girls at the party, and I was the only boy.

This is the only way to get to the beach. The other trails don’t go there.

➔ GRAMMAR: Don’t say: He was an only person who believed me. Say: He was the only person who believed me. Don’t say: There is an only way to solve this problem. Say: There is only one way to solve this problem. “An” is not used before only except when you say that someone does not have a brother or sister: He is an only child.

► single

used to emphasize that you mean one, and only one:

Dad fired a single shot from his rifle and hit the bird.

► sole AWL

sole means the same as only but sounds more formal or literary:

Anna was the sole survivor of the plane crash.

His sole responsibility was to protect the children.

► lone

used to emphasize that someone or something is the only one doing an activity or existing in a place. Lone is used especially in literary writing:

A lone figure (=person) in a heavy coat walked down the dark snowy street.

► solitary (formal)

a solitary object is the only one you can see in a place, and it may seem a little lonely or sad:

A solitary light shone in the window.

► unique AWL

a unique thing is the only one of its kind:

Each person’s fingerprints are unique.

ADVERBS: onlyYou can make the adjectives sole and unique into adverbs by using an -ly ending: The reporter was held solely responsible for the mistakes in the article. | The story gives the reader a sense of place and character that is uniquely American.

adjective | adverb

onlyonly2 /ˈoʊnli/ adverb 1 not more than a small amount or number► only adverb

not more than a small amount or number, especially when this is surprising:

Naomi was only 18 when she got married.

There were only eight people in the restaurant, so it was very quiet.

► just adverb

just means the same as only, but sounds a little more informal and is used more in spoken English:

“How many pins do you need?” “Just one.”

► no more than adverb

no more than means the same as only but sounds more formal:

These insects are no more than an inch long, but they can destroy a forest.

2 nothing or no one else► only adverb

nothing or no one except for a particular person, thing, or group:

We use only the best ingredients.

Only the students with the highest grades are accepted to the college.

➔ GRAMMAR: In signs and instructions, you can use only after a noun: The parking lot is for staff only.

► just adverb

just means the same as only, but sounds a little more informal and is used more in spoken English:

“Can all the students leave school for lunch?” “No, just the seniors.”

► nothing but adverb

only a particular thing, and no other things:

He eats nothing but vegetables.

3 not anything more important or serious► only adverb

used for saying that something or someone is not very important or serious:

Firefighters told the crowd that it was only smoke, and that there was no reason to worry.

She was only the manager’s assistant and could not help me.

► just adverb

just means the same as only but sounds more informal and is used more in spoken English:

“What’s for dinner?” “Just pasta - nothing exciting.”

I just said hello to her - I didn’t even get her name.

► merely adverb (formal)

merely means the same as only:

Jackson is merely one player on the team - the game does not depend entirely on him.

4 for no other reason► only adverb

for one reason or purpose, and not for any others. You use only to explain why someone does something:

Everyone thinks Daria only married him for his money.

The man said he took the food only because his family was very hungry.

► just adverb

just means the same as only, but sounds a little more informal and is used more in spoken English:

I didn’t mean to bother you - I was just trying to help.

► simply adverb

for one reason or purpose that is easy to understand, and not for any others. Simply is more formal than only or just:

Maybe I am sleeping so much simply because I have so much free time.

► merely adverb (formal)

used to emphasize that something is done only for the reason you say, and not for a more serious or more important reason:

I was not trying to blame you; I was merely asking what happened.

► purely adverb

only for the reason or purpose you say, or only of the type you say:

The colorful plants are purely for decoration - they cannot be eaten.

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