Solely — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adverb /ˈsō(l)-lē/ sole·ly

Meaning & Definition of Solely

Solely (adverb)

  1. to the exclusion of all else
  2. without another, singly

Solely (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. for nothing other than

    "I fight solely for my country, not for money!"

    similar: alone, exclusively, just, only, purely, simply
    related: basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, mostly, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially
    near: additionally, also, besides, likewise

  2. without aid or support

    "you undertook that project solely on your own, and you will finish it likewise"

    similar: alone, independently, single-handed, single-handedly, singly, unaided, unassisted, by one's own bootstraps, on one's own, on one's own hook, on one's own initiative
    related: individually, separately, solo
    near: collectively, conjointly, cooperatively, hand in glove, hand in hand, jointly, mutually, together, en masse

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Solely

The most common words with a similar meaning to Solely:

alone, exclusively, just, only, purely, simply, independently, single-handed, single-handedly, singly, unaided, unassisted, by one's own bootstraps, on one's own, on one's own hook, on one's own initiative

Related Words for Solely

basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, mostly, predominantly, primarily, principally, substantially, individually, separately, solo

Near Antonyms of Solely

additionally, also, besides, likewise, collectively, conjointly, cooperatively, hand in glove, hand in hand, jointly, mutually, together, en masse

Origin & Etymology of Solely

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Solely

Frequently Asked Questions about Solely

What does "Solely" mean?

"Solely" means to the exclusion of all else. As an adverb, it is defined as: to the exclusion of all else. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Solely"?

Other words for "Solely" include alone, exclusively, just, only, purely, simply, independently and single-handed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Solely" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Solely"?

There are 30 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Solely". Common alternatives include alone, exclusively, just, only, purely, simply, independently, single-handed, single-handedly and singly.

How do you use "Solely" in a sentence?

Examples of "Solely" in a sentence: "I fight solely for my country, not for money!"; "you undertook that project solely on your own, and you will finish it likewise".

Is "Solely" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Solely" is an adverb.

Is "Solely" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Solely" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Solely"?

"Solely" is pronounced /ˈsō(l)-lē/ and divided into syllables as sole·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Solely"?

First known use: 15th century.