[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/only/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [O](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/o/) / only # only adverb (only); adjective (only); conjunction (only — informal: but) «only» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Only means no more than, or just one. «Only 3 are left» means just 3 are left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m1) 2. Only means nothing or nobody else: «Only Sam knew». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m2) 3. An only child has no brothers or sisters. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m3) 4. «If only» shows a wish: «If only it would stop raining». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m4) 5. (informal) Only can mean «but»: «I'd come, only I'm busy.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m5) 6. (casual, sarcastic) «Only the best for you» or «oh, only 3 hours late» says the opposite of what it means. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m6) 7. (rough) «Only a muppet would…» is a put-down; «you only had one job» mocks someone who failed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m7) 8. (formal) «Solely», «exclusively» and «merely» are stiff words for only: «Admission is restricted exclusively to members.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#m8) ### In the lessons In maths: tells a small amount or that a group is the whole; often marks what is left; «only half». In everyday life: rules («staff only», «for ages 8 and up only»). In science: «only one of the plants grew» picks out one result. In stories: «the only way out». In casual talk only is often sarcastic. In the exam voice: «solely», «a mere 4 items remain». Phrases: «only just» (barely), «not only … but also», «if only», «the one and only», «only child». ### Examples - Only 4 apples are left. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x1) - She has only 2 dollars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x2) - He is the only boy in the class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x3) - Only half of the cake was eaten. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x4) - She is an only child. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x5) - This door is for staff only. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x6) - If only I had brought my umbrella! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x7) - The only way out was through the window. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x8) - only 2 quid left after the shop, gutted (casual, UK) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x9) - Oh, only an hour late, well done (sarcastic) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x10) - You had one job — carry 6 eggs — and you broke 4. (rough) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x11) - Subsequent to the sale, a mere 4 items remained; the vendor had initially possessed 19. Determine the number sold. (formal exam) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x12) - But the Skin Horse only smiled. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/#x13) ### Note «Only» does not change the number; it stresses that it is small. Trap: «only 4 are left» gives the end amount, not the amount taken away. Where you put «only» changes the meaning: «Only I ate cake» (nobody else ate) vs «I ate only cake» (nothing else). «Only just» means barely (only just made it). Sarcasm trap: «only an hour late» means very late. «Not only … but also» adds two things. Formal «merely» and «solely» = only. ## In Jewish tradition In maths: tells a small amount or that a group is the whole; often marks what is left; «only half». In everyday life: rules («staff only», «for ages 8 and up only»). In science: «only one of the plants grew» picks out one result. In stories: «the only way out». In casual talk only is often sarcastic. In the exam voice: «solely», «a mere 4 items remain». Phrases: «only just» (barely), «not only … but also», «if only», «the one and only», «only child». ### Examples - Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; (Torah DEU.29.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/#x1) - Only flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Torah GEN.9.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/#x2) - He that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed. (Torah EXO.22.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/#x3) - And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness? (Writings JOB.21.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/#x4) - Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. (Writings PRO.5.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/#x5) - By pride cometh only contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom. (Writings PRO.13.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/#x6) ### Note «Only» does not change the number; it stresses that it is small. Trap: «only 4 are left» gives the end amount, not the amount taken away. Where you put «only» changes the meaning: «Only I ate cake» (nobody else ate) vs «I ate only cake» (nothing else). «Only just» means barely (only just made it). Sarcasm trap: «only an hour late» means very late. «Not only … but also» adds two things. Formal «merely» and «solely» = only. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «only» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/only/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«only» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/only.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «only» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/only/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«only» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/only.html) on Mova free.