only
adjective[before noun]
uk/ˈəʊn.li/us/ˈoʊn.li/A1
used to show that there is asingleone or very few of something, or that there are noothers:
唯一的，仅有的I was the onlypersonon thetrain.我是火车上唯一的乘客。
Is this really the only way to do it?这真的是做这件事唯一的方法吗？
The only thing thatmattersis that thebabyishealthy.唯一要紧的是婴儿身体健康。
It was the only thing I could do under thecircumstances.在这种情况下这是我唯一能够做的。
Rita was the onlypersontocomplain.只有丽塔一人抱怨。
having no others like this one
- onlyShe's the only one who can do it.
- oneHe's the one person you can rely on in a situation like this.
- singleYou haven't listened to a single thing I've said!
- lonePolice were looking for a lone gunman.
- soleHe was the sole survivor of the plane crash.
- The onlytimeI haveclearnextweekisTuesdayafternoon.
- Therebels' onlyformofdefenceagainst thesoldiers'gunswassticksandstones.
- AnOlympicgoldmedalis the only thing that hasevadedher in herremarkablecareer.
- DennisWhitescoredthe onlygoalin anotherwiseforgettablematch.
- Theyturnedtheirnosesup at the onlyhotelthat wasavailable.
Numbers: single, double & multiple
- alone
- bilateral
- bilaterally
- bipartite
- bipolar
- deka-
- double-action
- dual
- dualism
- himself
- lone
- multiple
- plural
- purely
- solitary
- trilateral
- trilaterally
- tripartite
- unilaterally
- unit
Grammar
Only
Only is an adjective or adverb.…Onlyas an adjective
We use only as an adjective to mean that there is just one or very few of something, or that there are no others:…Onlyas an adverb
We use only as an adverb to mean that something is limited to some people, things, an amount or an activity:…Only: position
As an adjective, we use only in front of a noun or one, or before another adjective or a number:…only
adverb
uk/ˈəʊn.li/us/ˈoʊn.li/onlyadverb(NOT MORE)
A1
used to show that something islimitedto not more than, or is not anything other than, thepeople, things,amount, oractivitystated:
只，仅，才Atpresentthesetelevisionsare onlyavailablein Japan.目前这种电视机只有在日本才能买到。
Only Sue andMarkbotheredtoturnup for themeeting.只有苏和马克当回事，出席了这次会议。
Thisclubis formembersonly.这家俱乐部只对会员开放。
Only anidiotwould do that.只有白痴才会做那样的事。
Theseshoesonlycost$50.这鞋只要50美元。
Don'tworry- it's only ascratch.别担心——只是擦破了点皮而已。
I was onlyjoking.我不过是在开玩笑。
I was onlytryingtohelp.我只不过想帮忙。
I onlyarrivedhalfanhourago.我半小时前才到的。
Shespoketo me only a fewminutesago on thephone.她就在几分钟前和我通过电话。
It's only four o'clock and it's already gettingdark.才4点，天就开始黑了。
"Who's there?" "It's only me(= it is not someone you shouldworryabout). I'velockedmyself out."“谁在那儿？”“是我而已。我把自己关在外面了。”
It's onlynaturalthat you shouldworryaboutyourchildren.你担心自己的孩子，这是很自然的事情。
- Of 30countriesinspectedforairlinesafety, only 17receivedacleanbillofhealth.
- I was only doing 30mphon theclock.
- He only got thejobbecause of hisconnections!
- She onlyaskedme to herpartyas anafterthought.
- Not only did Ispeakto her, Ievengot herautograph!
Numbers: single, double & multiple
- alone
- bilateral
- bilaterally
- bipartite
- bipolar
- deka-
- double-action
- dual
- dualism
- himself
- lone
- multiple
- plural
- purely
- solitary
- trilateral
- trilaterally
- tripartite
- unilaterally
- unit
only just
B1
used to refer to something thathappensalmostimmediatelyafter somethingelse:
刚刚，才People wereleavingand I'd only justarrived.人们都要离开了，而我才刚刚到。
We'd only just set off when thecarbrokedown.我们才刚刚出发，车就抛锚了。
almostnot:
差点儿不；险些没；刚好There was only just enoughfoodto go round.食物刚刚够每人一份。
We got there intimeforourflight, but only just(= but wealmostdid not).我们及时赶上了班机，差一点就错过了。
In the past
- ago
- any moreidiom
- anymore
- back in the dayidiom
- back thenidiom
- bygone
- departed
- dim
- flood
- many moons agoidiom
- mist
- moon
- more
- no longeridiom
- retro
- rewind the clockidiom
- sometime
- step
- the mists of timeidiom
- the status quo ante
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Merely and barely
not only ... (but) also
B2
used to say that tworelatedthings aretrueorhappened,especiallywhen this issurprisingorshocking:
不但…而且Not only did heturnup late, he alsoforgothisbooks.他不但迟到了，还忘了带书。
If thisprojectfails, it willaffectnot onlyourdepartment, but also thewholeorganization.如果这个项目失败，不仅会影响到我们部门，还会对整个机构产生影响。
have only (got) to
If you say you have only (got) to do something, youmeanthat it is all you need to do inordertoachievesomethingelse:
只要，只需，尽管If youwantanyhelp, you have only toask.如果你需要任何帮助，尽管开口。
You only have tolookat herfacetoseethat she's not well.你只要看看她的脸色就知道她不舒服。
Also, extra, and in addition
- added
- additional
- additionally
- again
- along
- et al.
- et cetera
- etc.
- excess
- filler
- hand
- premium
- rate
- regardless
- same
- secondly
- side
- suchlike
- supernumerary
- touch
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Succeeding, achieving and fulfilling
onlyadverb(BAD RESULT)
used when saying that somethingunpleasantwillhappenas aresultof anactionor afailuretoact:
（表示由于某个行动或未能采取行动而导致不好的事情发生）只，只会If you don't do something about it now it will only getworse.如果你现在不做点什么的话，事情只会变得更糟。
Merely and barely
- all
- all ofsomethingidiom
- at a pinchidiom
- barely
- but
- by a whiskeridiom
- by inchesidiom
- hardly
- ill
- inch
- just
- little
- merely
- merest
- narrowly
- nothing more thanidiom
- pinch
- scarcely
- whisker
onlyadverb(FEEL SORRY)
used to show that youfeelsorryabout something that cannothappenwhenexplainingwhy it cannothappen:
（表示遗憾）只能I'dloveto go toAustralia. I onlywishI couldaffordto.我很想去澳大利亚。我只是希望自己能负担得起就好了。
I only hope/wish (that)
B2
used toemphasizewhat you arehopingorwishingfor:
（强调你所希望或期待的）I onlyhopeyouknowwhat you're doing.我只是希望你知道自己在做什么。
I onlywishthatthey wouldkeepintouchmoreregularly.我希望他们能保持更密切的联系。
Sadness and regret
- aw
- be/weigh onyourconscienceidiom
- bitter
- black dog
- breastbeating
- cry
- distress
- feel badidiom
- gloominess
- glumness
- groan
- guilt
- melancholia
- regretful
- regretfully
- remorse
- remorseful
- remorsefully
- repentant
- wretchedness
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Linguistics: intensifying expressions
Hoping and hopefulness
onlyadverb(SILLY)
UKinformal
used to show that youthinksomeone has done somethingsilly:
（表示认为某人做了傻事）不过，只是She's onlylockedherself out of herflatagain!她只是又一次把自己关在了公寓门外！
Linguistics: interjections
- aiyo
- alas and alackphrase
- attaboy
- attagirl
- auf Wiedersehen
- aw shucks
- eatyourheart outidiom
- figure
- goodo
- mazel tov
- more
- more power toyourelbow!idiom
- need
- need I say more?idiom
- no siridiom
- period
- small wonderidiom
- the rest is historyidiom
- you seeidiom
- yum yum
Grammar
Not only … but also
We use not only X but also Y in formal contexts:…Only
Only is an adjective or adverb.…Onlyas an adjective
We use only as an adjective to mean that there is just one or very few of something, or that there are no others:…Onlyas an adverb
We use only as an adverb to mean that something is limited to some people, things, an amount or an activity:…Only: position
As an adjective, we use only in front of a noun or one, or before another adjective or a number:…If only
We use if only to express a strong wish that things could be different. It means the same as I wish but is stronger. We use it to talk about past, present and future unreal conditions.…Idioms
if only
only to dosomething
only
conjunction
uk/ˈəʊn.li/us/ˈoʊn.li/C2
used to show what is thesingleormainreasonwhy somethingmentionedin the firstpartof thesentencecannot beperformedor is notcompletelytrue:
可是，但是；不过，只是I'dinviteFrances to theparty, only(= but I will not because)I don'twantherhusbandto come.我本想邀请弗朗西丝参加聚会，只是我不想让她的丈夫来，所以也就不邀请她了。
I'dcallhim myself, only(= but I cannot because)I'm atworkallday.我本要亲自给他打电话，可是我一整天都在工作。
I'd behappyto do it for you, only(= but)don'texpectit to be done before nextweek.我很高兴为你效劳，不过别指望能下星期前完成。
Thisfabricissimilartowool, only(= except that it is)cheaper.这种布料跟毛料类似，只是价格更便宜。
- I'dofferto give you aliftto theairport, only I've got to go towork.
- I'll makedinner, only not until you'vetidiedyourroom.
- I'd wouldpayfordinner, only I'veforgottenmywallet.
- I wouldhelpyoumovehouse, only I'vehurtmy back.
- Herlatestnovelissimilarto her last one, only it's not as well written.
Linguistics: connecting words which express a contrast
- again
- any way you slice itidiom
- at any rateidiom
- at leastidiom
- best
- but
- disjunctive
- given
- however
- in the face ofsomethingidiom
- in the teeth ofsomethingidiom
- might
- nevertheless
- rate
- seeing (that)
- slice
- spite
- though
- tooth
- when