solely

adverb

sole·​ly ˈsō(l)-lē How to pronounce solely (audio)
Synonyms of solelynext
1
: to the exclusion of all else
done solely for money
2
: without another : singly
went solely on her way

Examples of solely in a Sentence

His rank was based solely on merit. You will be held solely responsible for any damage. She did not write solely for money.
Recent Examples on the Web
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The global women’s health market, which includes treatments and care for conditions that affect women solely or disproportionately, is projected to reach $600 billion by 2030. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 10 Apr. 2026 One, Emergency in favor of twice, existed solely as an unfathomable phrase mentioned in a letter from Duchamp to his sister. Howard Halle, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026 This contrast in views is solely predicated on the Strait of Hormuz not seeing traffic flow anymore. Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026 His team developed BuddhaBot, which was trained solely on early Buddhist scriptures, such as Suttanipāta. ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for solely

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of solely was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Solely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solely. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

solely

adverb
sole·​ly ˈsō(l)-lē How to pronounce solely (audio)
1
: without another : singly, alone
2
: only entry 2 sense 1a
done solely for money

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