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only

/ˈəʊnli/adjective

उच्चारण ओन्ली

एकमात्र, अकेला

Basic word

adjective
  1. 1

    [only before noun]

    used to say that there is one person, thing or group in a particular situation and no others; most suitable; best

    एकमात्र, अकेला

    • the only child
    • the only way
    • She is the only person here who speaks Tamil.
    + 2 more examples
    • This is the only road that leads to the village.
    • He was the only one to reach the top.

    Synonyms sole single lone unique solitary

adverb
  1. 1

    nobody or nothing except; in no other situation, place; no more important, interesting, serious than; just

    केवल, सिर्फ़; अभी-अभी

    • Only Radhika knew the answer.
    • I only arrived yesterday.
    • I only want a glass of water, thank you.
    + 3 more examples
    • Only members are allowed inside the club.
    • The shop is open only on weekdays.
    • If only I had studied harder!

    Synonyms just merely solely simply exclusively

conjunction
  1. 1

    informal

    except that; but

    लेकिन

    • I'd come, only I'm busy.
    • I would help you, only I have an exam tomorrow.
    • It is a good plan, only it costs too much.
    + 1 more example
    • He is a nice boy, only a bit shy.

    Synonyms but however except that

≈Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

sole single lone unique solitary just merely solely simply exclusively but however except that

AaSpelling

on·ly

§Grammar and usage

Grammar, asked very often (position changes meaning): 'Only I saw her' (nobody else saw her), 'I only saw her' (I did nothing else), 'I saw only her' (I saw nobody else); place only next to the word it limits; inversion after 'only' at the start of a sentence ('Only then did I understand'; 'Only after the exam can you relax'); not only ... but also.

यह बहुत पूछा जाता है (स्थिति से अर्थ बदलता है): 'Only I saw her' (किसी और ने नहीं देखा), 'I only saw her' (मैंने और कुछ नहीं किया), 'I saw only her' (मैंने किसी और को नहीं देखा); only को उस शब्द के पास रखें जिसे यह सीमित करता है; वाक्य के आरंभ में 'only' के बाद inversion ('Only then did I understand'; 'Only after the exam can you relax'); not only ... but also।

“Collocations, idioms and sayings

If only (used to express a strong wish: 'If only I had studied'), only just (almost not; very recently), only too (very: 'only too happy to help'), the one and only.

Idioms: if only (प्रबल इच्छा व्यक्त करने के लिए, काश: 'If only I had studied'), only just (लगभग नहीं; अभी-अभी), only too (बहुत: 'only too happy to help'), the one and only।