the one and only
noun
—used before the name of a famous person to say that there is no one else like that person
the one and only Elvis Presley
Examples of the one and only in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are many grand hotels in Europe, but none quite so grand as the one and only Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
—
Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
That meant no longer using Berlusconi’s Milan as the one and only reference point.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The matchmaker Travis and Taylor have been coy about was actually the one and only Mama Swift!
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
This delicate scent with peach and floral notes was created by Hubert de Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn, and it wasn’t even released to the public until years after its debut in the 1960s—until then, Hepburn was the one and only to possess it.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the one and only
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.
Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
That meant no longer using Berlusconi’s Milan as the one and only reference point.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The matchmaker Travis and Taylor have been coy about was actually the one and only Mama Swift!
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025
This delicate scent with peach and floral notes was created by Hubert de Givenchy for Audrey Hepburn, and it wasn’t even released to the public until years after its debut in the 1960s—until then, Hepburn was the one and only to possess it.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the one and only
Cite this Entry
“The one and only.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20one%20and%20only. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
