on‧ly 1 S1 W1 / əʊnli $ oʊn- / 副词 #

1 not more than a particular number, age etc :

Naomi was only 17 when she got married.

There are only a few cars on the island.

It’s only eight o’clock.

2 used to say that something or someone is not very important, serious etc :

It was only a joke.

It’s an interesting job, but it’s only temporary.

They’re only small cuts, nothing life-threatening.

3 nothing or no one except a particular person or thing :

Only the president can authorize a nuclear attack.

We use only the best ingredients.

women/men/residents etc only

The car park is for staff only.

4 used to say that something happens or is possible in one particular situation or place and no others, or for one particular reason :

I’ll tell you, but only if you don’t tell anyone else.

I ate the food, but only because I was starving.

The transfer takes place only when the data is complete.

Grammar

You can put a 短语 or clause beginning with only first, to emphasize it. You put the subject after an auxiliary in the main clause :

Only in London did I find a purpose in life.

Only by changing themselves can organizations continue to succeed.

5 no earlier than a particular time

only yesterday/last week/recently

‘When did you email her?’ ‘Only yesterday.’

only then did/would/could etc somebody do something (= at that moment and not before )

Only then did she tell him about the attack.

6 only just British English

a) a very short time ago :

She’s only just got up.

b) almost not 同义词 barely :

I only just finished my essay in time.

7 can only hope/wait etc used to say that it is not possible to do more than hope etc :

We can only hope it won’t rain on the day.

8 I can only think/suppose/assume (that) spoken used when you are giving a reason for something, to say that you do not know something for certain but think that this is the only possible reason :

I can only assume that it was a mistake.

9 I only wish/hope spoken used to express a strong wish or hope :

‘What’s happening?’ ‘I only wish I knew.’

10 if only spoken used to express a strong wish :

If only he’d call!

11 you’ll only spoken used to tell someone that what they want to do will have a bad effect :

Don’t interfere – you’ll only make things worse.

12 you only have to read/look at/listen to etc something spoken used to say that it is easy to know that something is true because you can see or hear things that prove it :

You only have to look at the statistics to see that things are getting worse.

13 only to used to say that someone did something, with a disappointing or surprising result :

I arrived only to find that the others had already left.

14 only too very :

Prices have risen sharply, as we know only too well.

Mark was only too happy to agree with her.

→ not only … but (also) at not ( 4 ) , → only have eyes for somebody at eye 1 ( 32 ) , → for sb’s eyes only at eye 1 ( 25 )

only 2 S1 W1 adjective [仅用于名词前] #

1 used to say that there is one person, thing, or group in a particular situation and no others :
I was the only woman there. He is our only child. I was the only one who disagreed. Cutting costs is the only solution. She’s the only person for this job. 2 the only thing/problem is … spoken used when you are going to mention a problem or disadvantage :
I could take you. The only thing is Dan might need the car. 3 an only child a child who has no brothers or sisters → the one and only at one 4 ( 2 ) , → (only) time will tell at time 1 ( 36 )

only 3 conjunction spoken #

used like ‘but’ to give the reason why something is not possible SYN except (that) :
I’d offer to help, only I’m really busy just now.