Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - only

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: In written English, 'only' is usually placed immediately before the word it qualifies. In spoken English, however, you can use stress to indicate what 'only' qualifies, so its position is not so important. 1. You use only to indicate the one thing that is true, appropriate, or necessary in a particular situation, in contrast to all the other things that are not true, appropriate, or necessary. Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb... Only here were the police visible in any strength at all... 44-year-old woman seeks caring, honest male of similar age for friendship and fun. Genuine replies only... A business can only be built and expanded on a sound financial base... ADV: ADV with group, ADV before v 2. You use only to introduce the thing which must happen before the thing mentioned in the main part of the sentence can happen. The lawyer is paid only if he wins... The Bank of England insists that it will cut interest rates only when it is ready... ADV: ADV cl/prep 3. If you talk about the only person or thing involved in a particular situation, you mean there are no others involved in it. She was the only woman in Shell’s legal department... My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had - the only company. ADJ: det ADJ 4. An only child is a child who has no brothers or sisters. ADJ: ADJ n 5. You use only to indicate that something is no more important, interesting, or difficult, for example, than you say it is, especially when you want to correct a wrong idea that someone may get or has already got. At the moment it is only a theory... ‘I’m only a sergeant,’ said Clements... Don’t get defensive, Charlie. I was only joking. = just ADV: ADV group, ADV before v 6. You use only to emphasize how small an amount is or how short a length of time is. Child car seats only cost about ?10 a week to hire. ...spacecraft guidance systems weighing only a few grams... I’ve only recently met him. ADV: ADV n/adv c darkgreen]emphasis 7. You use only to emphasize that you are talking about a small part of an amount or group, not the whole of it. These are only a few of the possibilities... Only a minority of the people supported the Revolution. ADV: ADV n c darkgreen]emphasis 8. Only is used after ‘can’ or ‘could’ to emphasize that it is impossible to do anything except the rather inadequate or limited action that is mentioned. For a moment I could say nothing. I could only stand and look... The police can only guess at the scale of the problem. ADV: modal ADV inf c darkgreen]emphasis 9. You can use only in the expressions I only wish or I only hope in order to emphasize what you are hoping or wishing. I only wish he were here now that things are getting better for me... = just ADV: ADV before v c darkgreen]emphasis 10. Only can be used to add a comment which slightly changes or limits what you have just said. (INFORMAL) It’s just as dramatic as a film, only it’s real... Drop in and see me when you’re ready. Only don’t take too long about it. = but, except CONJ 11. Only can be used after a clause with ‘would’ to indicate why something is not done. (SPOKEN) I’d invite you to come with me, only it’s such a long way... I’d be quite happy to go. Only I don’t know what my kids would say about living there. = but CONJ 12. You can use only before an infinitive to introduce an event which happens immediately after one you have just mentioned, and which is rather surprising or unfortunate. Ryle tried the Embassy, only to be told that Hugh was in a meeting... He raced through the living room, only to find the front door closed. ADV: ADV to-inf 13. You can use only to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is. It’s only fair to let her know that you intend to apply... She appeared to have changed considerably, which was only to be expected. ADV: usu ADV adj, also ADV to-inf c darkgreen]emphasis 14. You can use only in front of a verb to indicate that the result of something is unfortunate or undesirable and is likely to make the situation worse rather than better. The embargo would only hurt innocent civilians... She says that legalising prostitution will only cause problems. = just ADV: ADV before v 15. If you say you only have to or have only to do one thing in order to achieve or prove a second thing, you are emphasizing how easily the second thing can be achieved or proved. Any time you want a babysitter, dear, you only have to ask... We have only to read the labels to know what ingredients are in foods. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR inf c darkgreen]emphasis 16. You can say that something has only just happened when you want to emphasize that it happened a very short time ago. I’ve only just arrived... The signs of an economic revival are only just beginning... PHRASE: PHR before v, PHR adv c darkgreen]emphasis 17. You use only just to emphasize that something is true, but by such a small degree that it is almost not true at all. For centuries farmers there have only just managed to survive... I am old enough to remember the Blitz, but only just... PHRASE: usu PHR before v, PHR with cl/group c darkgreen]emphasis 18. You can use only too to emphasize that something is true or exists to a much greater extent than you would expect or like. I know only too well that plans can easily go wrong... When the new baby comes along it is only too easy to shut out the others. PHRASE: PHR adv/adj c darkgreen]emphasis 19. You can say that you are only too happy to do something to emphasize how willing you are to do it. I’ll be only too pleased to help them out with any queries. PHRASE: PHR adj c darkgreen]emphasis 20. if only: see if not only: see not the one and only: see one