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

But this time, the band went into an instrumental portion and guitar solo after finishing the first chorus and omitted that verse of the song completely. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026

During the solo Freedom 250 Tour, Kid Rock is slated to perform in Massachusetts. —Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 8 Feb. 2026

Adverb

The illuminating skin tint delivers a natural-looking glow and looks great both solo and layered under makeup. —Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026

For the first time in her life as a royal, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is flying solo. —Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 27 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Breed embarked on her first solo marathon swim in 2017, 21 miles across the length of Lake Tahoe. —James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

These organizations don't charge the supplement and even provide additional resources and support that cater just to solo travelers. —Amelia Edelman, NPR, 4 Feb. 2026

Verb

Honnold has also famously soloed Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park and the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome in California. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

The studio recently held playtests that included new features like proximity chat and an option to solo queue into games. —Tom Warren, The Verge, 19 Jan. 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