solo

1 of 4

noun

so·​lo ˈsō-(ˌ)lō 

plural solos

1

or plural soli ˈsō-(ˌ)lē 

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 

-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

Synonyms of solo

Adjective

• single
• lone
• lonely
• solitary
• unaccompanied
• 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

Steven Kwan opened the scoring for the Guardians with an RBI single in the fifth, and Bazzana hit a solo shot in the eighth, his third of the season, as Cleveland won for the eighth time in nine games. —ABC News, 24 May 2026

The trip—done on behalf of her early childhood development work—was the Princess of Wales’s first solo trip abroad since 2022 and her first official international visit since her 2024 cancer diagnosis. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 May 2026

Adverb

For now, that meant her husband attended this particular event solo. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 May 2026

Untitled Tamara Klink Arctic Documentary In 2025 Klink sailed solo the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 45 days, becoming the first Latin American and second woman to achieve the feat. —John Hopewell, Variety, 25 May 2026

Adjective

Michael Massey hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning and team captain Salvador Perez tied the game at 2 with a solo homer in the sixth. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2026

He’s tied with Taylor Swift for the most number one albums as a solo act, with both behind the Beatles 19 number 1 albums to their name. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 May 2026

Verb

Pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard moved into the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday, emphatically taking control of the race by soloing to victory on the brutal 14th stage. —ABC News, 23 May 2026

Rooms With nearly 780 guest rooms and more than 30 suites, accommodations are meant to provide comfort and flexibility for all types of travelers, from families and groups to solo travelers and couples. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026

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

Phrases Containing solo

• free-solo
• solo home run

Rhymes for solo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

solo

1 of 3 noun

so·​lo ˈsō-lō 

plural solos

1

or plural soli ˈsō-lē  : 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