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
Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances.
—
William Jones, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
But most goal-setting advice falls short by focusing solely on training your visualization abilities without developing your obstacle-processing muscle — your brain’s capacity to plan around challenges while maintaining motivation.
—Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
Last year, Javadi voted with then-fellow Republicans to recriminalize drug possession in Oregon, leading to nearly 2,600 arrests solely for possession in the year since.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 11 Sep. 2025
Equally important, leadership must resist the temptation to measure success solely in quarterly earnings.
—Hank Cardello, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solely
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William Jones, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
But most goal-setting advice falls short by focusing solely on training your visualization abilities without developing your obstacle-processing muscle — your brain’s capacity to plan around challenges while maintaining motivation.
—Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025
Last year, Javadi voted with then-fellow Republicans to recriminalize drug possession in Oregon, leading to nearly 2,600 arrests solely for possession in the year since.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 11 Sep. 2025
Equally important, leadership must resist the temptation to measure success solely in quarterly earnings.
—Hank Cardello, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solely
Cite this Entry
“Solely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solely. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
solely
adverb
sole·ly
ˈsō(l)-lē 
2
: only entry 2 sense 1a
done solely for money
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