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

Adjective

• lone
• single
• 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

Ginger and Alyssa are funnier in their solo introductions but don’t really improv off each other the way the other groups do. —Chris Feil, Vulture, 27 June 2025

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Backpacking Tent for $175 ($86 off) Six Moon Designs Six Moon Design's Lunar Solo (7/10, WIRED Review) is my favorite single-wall ultralight solo tent. —Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 27 June 2025

Adverb

Jenner's boyfriend Corey Gamble was pictured a day earlier among the guest arrivals boarding a taxi boat solo without the Kardashian-Jenner family momager. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 27 June 2025

Most airlines require children to be at least 5 years old to fly solo — and even then, only on nonstop flights. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2025

Adjective

Since then, on solo records like Eat Pray Thug and Swet Shop Boys’ 2016 LP Cashmere, Suri has used his platform as a critic’s darling to highlight local issues. —Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025

More importantly, her fans have played a vital role in her solo success. —Braedon Montgomery, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

Keyboardist John Varn solos on piano on four of the tunes. —Paul Liberatore, Mercury News, 13 June 2025

The 24-year-old came close to his first Grand Tour stage win at the Giro last year, and once again vaulted himself into contention after soloing away from the breakaway with 40km to go. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025

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