solo

1 of 4

noun

so·​lo ˈsō-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce solo (audio)
plural solos
1
or plural soli ˈsō-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce solo (audio)
a
: a musical composition for a single voice or instrument with or without accompaniment
b
: the featured part of a concerto or similar work
2
: a performance in which the performer has no partner or associate : something undertaken or done alone
a student pilot's first solo
3
: any of several card games in which a player elects to play without a partner against the other players

solo

2 of 4

adverb

: without a companion : alone
fly solo

solo

3 of 4

adjective

1
: accommodating one person
a solo canoe
2
: of, relating to, or being a solo
a solo performance
a solo flight
3
: hit with no runners on base
a solo home run

solo

4 of 4

verb

soloed; soloing ˈsō-(ˌ)lō-iŋ How to pronounce solo (audio)
-lə-wiŋ

intransitive verb

: to perform by oneself: such as
a
: to perform a musical solo
b
: to fly an airplane without one's instructor on board

transitive verb

1
: to fly (an aircraft) alone
2
: to climb (something, such as a mountain) alone

Examples of solo in a Sentence

Noun She is learning to fly and she flew her first solo yesterday. Adjective a student pilot's first solo flight She left the band last year and started a solo career. He just issued his first solo album. Verb The guitarist solos on practically every song. She soloed for the first time yesterday.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
On her latest solo outing, Written by Tofer Brown, Lauren Hungate, Caroline Watkins and Emily Weisband, Porter revels in gratitude. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Mar. 2024 Parton released her 49th solo album — a collaboration-heavy record titled Rockstar — last November. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 In the stands, one of the band’s drummers is lost in his solo. Toby Muse, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2024 The Dame Eva doesn't require any fingers to use during solo and partnered play. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Mar. 2024 The label also reissued Hudson River Wind Meditations, Reed’s final solo album before his death in 2013. Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 Mar. 2024 At long last, Normani has announced the title of her debut solo studio album, Dopamine. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 21 Feb. 2024 Hawkings’ first solo outing was last September’s Spring/Summer 2024 show at Milan Fashion Week. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 While digging up clues, Christopher unexpectedly turns up answers to a few other mysteries that will lead him on an odyssey-like solo journey to London. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2024
Adverb
In 2022, Diaz died in an e-scooter accident, leaving Reyna to continue solo. Taylor Mims, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 The complications have meant that Danielle has to make business decisions on her own and tour potential locations solo. Zoe Glasser, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Greenbaum had served as co-president of Searchlight, Disney’s art-house film unit, along with Matthew Greenfield, who will continue solo in that role. Lucas Shaw, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Meryl Streep, who played Miranda Priestly in the beloved 2006 film, took the stage first solo, but forgot both her glasses and her presenter card. Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 If hiking solo, tell someone your start and end times, and location. The Arizona Republic, 25 Feb. 2024 The musician took the stage solo with an acoustic guitar for the intimate, introspective number, which tells an ominous tale. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 And whether women travel with their partners, their families, friends, solo or in groups, 80% of all travel decisions are made by women. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 The Fox guessing game show, which is hosted by actor and comedian Anthony Anderson and his mother, Doris Bowman, showcases non-famous relatives of celebrities performing solo and then duets with their secret famous family member. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Following the king’s diagnosis, Harry made a fleeting 26-hour trip to Britain solo to see his father, but reportedly did not meet with William. Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 In April 2021, Kelley released his solo debut, BK’s Wave Pack, and the country duo performed their final concert as Florida Georgia Line at the Minnesota State Fair in August 2023. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2024 Beard recorded six solo CDs spanning the years 1990-2013 and won his Grammy in 2007 as a featured performer on the album Some Skunk Funk, from Randy and Michael Brecker. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Prince William and Queen Camilla have both made several solo engagements and the Queen, 76, is taking a brief break from work this week. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Dancers go through an interview and finish with a solo dance portion that shows their personalities and performance quality. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 But this is not a solo, and soon the other dancers return, moving around Gordon like dim memories or shades. Jennifer Homans, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Fans could be forgiven for thinking that Justin Timberlake might never release another solo album. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 After a break from his solo career, South Korean singer Lay is back with a new single. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Shared by Burbank and North Hollywood, Valhalla Memorial Park, opened a few years before Charles Lindbergh soloed across the Atlantic, had its past share of fraud and neglect. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 One day Cissy said, 'Your baby is soloing in church for the first time this Sunday. Mary Shaughnessy, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2023 Classical Music San Diego Symphony music director Rafael Payare and cello star Alisa Weilerstein hit all the right notes April 19, 2020 Weilerstein will solo on Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2023 How can solo travelers ensure their own safety? Roger Sands, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2021 My test was comprised of trips near and far, in traffic and on winding mountain roads, solo the whole time, and always in a hurry while being safe about it. Josh Max, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 Three-Eight Charlie is the story of Jerrie Mock’s record-setting flight as the first woman to solo around the world in 1964 in a single-engine Cessna 180. Lucia Cheng, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Aug. 2022 Richard Lin, who won the 2018 gold medal in the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, will solo. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Aug. 2021 Richard Lin, who won the 2018 gold media in the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, will solo. Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 13 July 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, from solo alone, from Latin solus

First Known Use

Noun

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1712, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1886, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of solo was in 1695

Dictionary Entries Near solo

Cite this Entry

“Solo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

solo

1 of 3 noun
so·​lo ˈsō-lō How to pronounce solo (audio)
plural solos
1
or plural soli ˈsō-lē How to pronounce solo (audio) : a piece of music written to be performed by one voice or one instrument
2
: an action in which there is only one performer

solo

2 of 3 adverb or adjective
: without a companion : alone

solo

3 of 3 verb
soloed; soloing
-(ˌ)lō-iŋ,
-lə-wiŋ
: to perform by oneself
especially : to fly an airplane without one's instructor
Etymology

Noun

from Italian solo "a part in music performed without accompaniment," from solo (adjective) "alone," from Latin solus "alone" — related to desolate, sole entry 4, solitude

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