solo

1 of 4

noun

so·​lo ˈsō-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce solo (audio)
plural solos
1
or plural soli ˈsō-(ˌ)lē How to pronounce solo (audio)
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 How to pronounce solo (audio)
-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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
While there have been hundreds of successful expeditions across the Mid-Atlantic, the North Atlantic is less frequently traversed by solo ocean rowers and teams. Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025 Grede kicked off the Instagram carousel with a solo mirror selfie, followed by a mirror selfie with the Duchess of Sussex. Charna Flam, People.com, 19 June 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 See All Example Sentences for solo

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of solo was in 1695

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Solo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solo. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

solo

1 of 3 noun
so·​lo ˈsō-lō How to pronounce solo (audio)
plural solos
1
or plural soli ˈsō-lē How to pronounce solo (audio) : 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

More from Merriam-Webster on solo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!