1
a
: being the only one
she was her mother's sole support
b
: having no sharer
2
: functioning independently and without assistance or interference
let conscience be the sole judge
3
: belonging exclusively or otherwise limited to one usually specified individual, unit, or group
4
: not married
—used chiefly of women
5
archaic
: having no companion : solitary
1
a
: the undersurface of a foot
b
: the part of an item of footwear on which the sole rests and upon which the wearer treads
2
: the usually flat or flattened bottom or lower part of something or the base on which something rests
soled; soling
1
: to furnish with a sole
sole a shoe
2
: to place the sole of (a golf club) on the ground
: any of various flatfishes (family Soleidae) having a small mouth, small or rudimentary fins, and small eyes placed close together and including important food fishes (such as the European Dover sole)
also
: any of various mostly market flatfishes (such as lemon sole) of other families (such as Pleuronectidae)
Synonyms
Examples of sole in a Sentence
Adjective
He became the sole heir to the property.
The sole aim of the program is to help the poor.
She was the sole survivor of the tragedy.
Icy roads were the sole cause of the accident.
He has sole jurisdiction of the area.
Verb
My shoes need to be soled.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
Once adjusted to the film’s unusual rhythms, your attention refocuses on the actual primate characters, especially Keough, the sole female, who occasionally slumps against a tree and stares off into the distance.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Abuse allegations also surfaced against 50 Cent after it was reported that the musician was seeking sole custody of their son his ex-girlfriend Daphne Jod was named in Lil Rod’s lawsuit.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
The problem, according to Davis, is how the flared sole impacts your joints, including your ankles, knees, and hips.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
But let’s not be fooled: The sole reason Sporting is returning to Arrowhead lies on the left foot of a 5-foot-7 man from Rosario, Argentina.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Some 25 women in the co-op are the sole breadwinners for their families.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
The larger aim is to challenge the bedrock constitutional principle that the federal government, not the states, has the sole authority to enforce national immigration laws.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
The $935 million prize is for a sole winner who chooses an annuity, paid over 30 years.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2024
Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The faux laces are stretchy and flexible for those with wider feet, and the sole has anti-slip traction.
—Lauren Fischer, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
The plush lining alleviates pressure, and a sturdy sole provides balance and stability.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024
This is a true archival shoe, featuring a suede and fabric upper with contrasting details in white as well as a small pop of red along the sole.
—Lucrezia Malavolta, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024
The inner sole is also made of memory foam so you may be tempted to stay in them all day.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Their elegance lies in embracing minimalism, streamlined sophistication, and a slender sole, contrasting casual footwear’s more robust and multi-paneled design.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
This sturdy pair boasts cushioned and supportive insoles, a flexible design, and a thick rubber exterior complete with an anti-skid sole.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
Lopez chose to wear the style in the limited-edition Afterglow Orange shade, a super-light pastel orange with a chunky white sole.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2023
Adjective
Brantley is the sole defendant in the lawsuit filed by Trooper Evan Neilson, but Chiros also figures prominently in the lawsuit.
—Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 12 Apr. 2024
Once adjusted to the film’s unusual rhythms, your attention refocuses on the actual primate characters, especially Keough, the sole female, who occasionally slumps against a tree and stares off into the distance.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Abuse allegations also surfaced against 50 Cent after it was reported that the musician was seeking sole custody of their son his ex-girlfriend Daphne Jod was named in Lil Rod’s lawsuit.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
The problem, according to Davis, is how the flared sole impacts your joints, including your ankles, knees, and hips.
—Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024
But let’s not be fooled: The sole reason Sporting is returning to Arrowhead lies on the left foot of a 5-foot-7 man from Rosario, Argentina.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
Some 25 women in the co-op are the sole breadwinners for their families.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
The larger aim is to challenge the bedrock constitutional principle that the federal government, not the states, has the sole authority to enforce national immigration laws.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2024
The $935 million prize is for a sole winner who chooses an annuity, paid over 30 years.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2024
Noun
The virus can find its way into barns via dust particles or on the sole of a farmer’s boot.
—Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The faux laces are stretchy and flexible for those with wider feet, and the sole has anti-slip traction.
—Lauren Fischer, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2024
The plush lining alleviates pressure, and a sturdy sole provides balance and stability.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024
This is a true archival shoe, featuring a suede and fabric upper with contrasting details in white as well as a small pop of red along the sole.
—Lucrezia Malavolta, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024
The inner sole is also made of memory foam so you may be tempted to stay in them all day.
—Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Their elegance lies in embracing minimalism, streamlined sophistication, and a slender sole, contrasting casual footwear’s more robust and multi-paneled design.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
This sturdy pair boasts cushioned and supportive insoles, a flexible design, and a thick rubber exterior complete with an anti-skid sole.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
Lopez chose to wear the style in the limited-edition Afterglow Orange shade, a super-light pastel orange with a chunky white sole.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Rubber soled and perfect for a boat my favorite espadrille maker is famed Spanish house, Castañer.
—Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sole
Cite this Entry
“Sole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sole. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sole
1 of 4 noun1
: the underside of a foot
2
: the part of footwear on which the sole of the foot rests
soled
adjective
ˈsōld
sole
2 of 4 verb
soled; soling
: to furnish with a sole
sole shoes
sole
3 of 4 noun
: any of various flatfishes that have a small mouth, small fins, and small closely set eyes and that include some fishes used for food
sole
4 of 4 adjective1
archaic
: having no companion : alone
2
a
: having no sharer
sole owner
b
: being the only one
3
: acting independently and without assistance or interference
the sole judge
4
: belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named
given sole authority
soleness
noun
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sole "the underside of the foot or shoe," from early French sole (same meaning), from Latin solea "sandal"
Noun
Middle English sole "a type of flatfish," from early French sole (same meaning), from Latin solea "sandal, a flatfish"
Adjective
Middle English sole "alone," from early French seul (same meaning), from Latin solus "alone" — related to desolate, solitude, solo
Medical Definition
sole
noun1
: the undersurface of a foot
2
: the somewhat concave plate of moderately dense horn that covers the lower surface of the coffin bone of the horse, partly surrounds the frog, and is bounded externally by the wall
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