solo

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

Examples of solo in a Sentence

The guitarist solos on practically every song.

She soloed for the first time yesterday.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Danish rider soloed to victory at the end of the tough 16th stage of the Giro d’Italia to extend his overall lead to more than four minutes on Tuesday. —ABC News, 26 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

Savannah Savannah's welcoming nature makes visiting this Southern city solo a breeze. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026

An elevator opened and closed, showing mammoth Venus flytraps snapping for food, a cat’s eye that was a big as house and then, finally, Anastasio soloing away. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

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