solely

adverb

sole·​ly ˈsō(l)-lē 

1

: to the exclusion of all else

done solely for money

2

: without another : singly

went solely on her way

Synonyms of solely

• only
• purely
• exclusively
• just
• simply

Examples of solely in a Sentence

His rank was based solely on merit.

You will be held solely responsible for any damage.

She did not write solely for money.

Recent Examples on the Web

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. —Avi Patel, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026

Energy flows are no longer determined solely by price and proximity but by alliance structures and security guarantees. —Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

By using computers to design molecules rather than relying solely on traditional wet-lab testing, Pfizer synthesized fewer candidates but achieved higher success rates. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026

Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. —Ethan Stone, IndyStar, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

solely

adverb

sole·​ly ˈsō(l)-lē 

1

: without another : singly, alone

2

: only entry 2 sense 1a

done solely for money