Tra từ only - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

only adjective, adverb, conjunction BrE [ˈəʊnli] NAmE [ˈoʊnli]
adjective only before noun
1. used to say that no other or others of the same group exist or are there
• She's their only daughter.
• We were the only people there.
•His only answer was a grunt.
2. used to say that sb/sth is the best and you would not choose any other
• She's the only person for the job.
more at in name only at ↑name _n., one and only at ↑one _det.

Word Origin:
Old English ānlic (adjective) (see ↑one, ↑-ly).
Idioms: ↑not only … but … ▪ ↑only just ▪ ↑only thing is … ▪ ↑only too … ▪ ↑you're only young once

adverb
1. nobody or nothing except
• There are only a limited number of tickets available.
• The bar is for members only.
•You only have to look at her to see she doesn't eat enough.
•Only five people turned up.
2. in no other situation, place, etc
• I agreed, but only because I was frightened.
• Children are admitted only if accompanied by an adult. In formal written English only, or only if and its clause, can be placed first in the sentence. In the second part of the sentence, be, do, have, etc. come before the subject and the main part of the verb
•Only in Paris do you find bars like this.
•Only if these conditions are fulfilled can the application proceed to the next stage.
3. no more important, interesting, serious, etc. than
• It was only a suggestion.
• Don't blame me, I'm only the messenger!
•He was only teasing you.
4. no more than; no longer than
• She's only 21 and she runs her own business.
• It only took a few seconds.
•It took only a few seconds.
5. not until
• We only got here yesterday.
• (formal)Only then did she realize the stress he was under. When only begins a sentence be, do, have, etc. come before the subject and the main part of the verb.
6. used to say that sb can do no more than what is mentioned, although this is probably not enough
• We can only guess what happened.
• He could only watch helplessly as the car plunged into the ravine.
•I only hope that she never finds out.
7. used to say that sth will have a bad effect
• If you do that, it will only make matters worse.
• Trying to reason with him only enrages him even more.
8. ~ to do sth used to mention sth that happens immediately afterwards, especially sth that causes surprise, disappointment, etc.
•She turned up the driveway, only to find her way blocked.
more at only have eyes for/have eyes only for sb at ↑eye _n., if only at ↑if _conj.

Word Origin:
Old English ānlic (adjective) (see ↑one, ↑-ly).

Language Bank:
addition
Adding another item
▪ Bilingual children do better in IQ tests than children who speak only one language. In addition ▪ / What is more ▪, they seem to find it easier to learn third or even fourth languages.
▪ Learning another language not only ▪ improves children's job prospects in later life, but also ▪ boosts their self-esteem.
▪ Teaching children a second language improves their job prospects in later life. Other ▪ benefits include ▪ increased self-esteem and greater tolerance of other cultures.
Another ▪ / One further ▪ / One additional ▪ reason for encouraging bilingual education is that it boosts children's self-esteem.
▪ Studies suggest that bilingual children find it easier to learn additional languages. There is, moreover ▪, increasing evidence that bilingual children perform better across a range of school subjects, not just foreign languages.
▪ His claim that children find bilingual education confusing is based on very little evidence. Moreover ▪, the evidence he does provide is seriously flawed.
▪ Research has shown that first-language development is not impeded by exposure to a second language. Furthermore ▪, there is no evidence to support the claim that children find bilingual education confusing.

conjunction (informal)
except that; but
• I'd love to come, only I have to work.
• It tastes like chicken, only stronger.

Word Origin:
[only] Old English ānlic (adjective) (see ↑one, ↑-ly).