only 1 of 3

Definition of onlynext
1
2
3
as in merely
nothing more than I was only fooling when I said I saw a shark in the water

Synonyms & Similar Words

only

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in excellent
having no equal or rival for excellence or desirability the only way to really appreciate the beauty of the forest is to walk through it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

only

3 of 3

conjunction

as in but
if it were not for the fact that that's a very nice idea, only it won't help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of only
Adverb
Around midnight on a muggy June Monday, only one club was awake in Washington’s nightlife hub. Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 20 June 2026 The teen lived only two blocks away from the crash site, according to police. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 June 2026
Adjective
Closing out Commissioner’s Cup The Valkyries ended their 2026 Commissioner’s Cup run 5-2 with their only losses coming to the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 18 June 2026 The governor noted that Ohio is far from the only state where such trends exist. CBS News, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for only
Recent Examples of Synonyms for only
Adverb
  • Like Eastern, the airline promised passengers that if a flight was full, the shuttle would roll out a second plane – even for just one passenger.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • As the four-day event continues today, Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, June 26, there’s no better time to snag the latest deals that just launched on site.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 24 June 2026
Adverb
  • Though the Dodgers should have several high-leverage arms to fill in for Diaz, virtually all of their relief options have struggled lately.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Jim Cramer has been hot on Intel lately, and Thursday's news just reinforced his conviction.
    Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 19 June 2026
Adverb
  • For starters, bright colors inject visibility – not merely for players looking to find each other amid the chaos of a World Cup match, but also for brands looking to draw the gazes of millions of onlooking fans towards their logo.
    Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • To give a concrete example, doubling sequence length from 32 tokens to 64 tokens does not merely double the computational cost for a transformer but rather quadruples it.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • This should be an excellent match against a South Korean side that also has a victory after its comeback last week to beat Czechia.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
  • Come for that convenience, and stay for lively communal areas, sleek and spacious rooms and suites, and excellent food and beverage programming.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Conjunction
  • But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.
    Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017
  • But with a full and volatile season behind them, the two have grown closer, prompting check-ins from Bradford last month, seeking tidbits from his coach who watched OTA practices on a tablet from his Kentucky retreat.
    Chad Graff, Twin Cities, 15 June 2017
Adverb
  • For years, the industry was dominated solely by Disney, then Pixar and later Dreamworks Animation.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • Because these worldviews frequently arrive at different conclusions, obviously on the polar opposite of each other, Christians don’t see Pride Nights as solely a political debate, but a theological one as well.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Adverb
  • At least 11 people dressed in black arrived at the facility late on Independence Day, including some wearing body armor and carrying firearms, the indictment reads.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • The Philadelphia Phillies went into the top of the ninth inning down 8-6 to the Washington Nationals after Orion Kerkering gave up a three-run home run to blow the lead late in the game.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Only.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/only. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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