English · Word Candidate

only

/ˈəʊn.li/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: onlys · onlies

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Alone in a category.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Độc nhất trong một loại

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

He is the only doctor for miles.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Singularly superior; the best.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Siêu việt, tốt nhất

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

Motley's the only wear.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Without others or anything further; exclusively.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Không có gì khác, chỉ riêng

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adverb

Examples

In his submission to the UN, [Christof] Heyns points to the experience of drones. Unmanned aerial vehicles were intended initially only for surveillance, and their use for offensive purposes was prohibited, yet once strategists realised their perceived advantages as a means of carrying out targeted

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

No more than; just.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Không hơn; chỉ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adverb

Examples

To DAD who only reared twelve children and To MOTHER who reared twelve only children

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “only” mean?

Alone in a category.

Is “only” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.