Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: In written English, '~' is usually placed immediately before the word it qualifies. In spoken English, however, you can use stress to indicate what '~' qualifies, so its position is not so important.
1.
You use ~ to indicate the one thing that is true, appropriate, or necessary in a particular situation, in contrast to all the other things that are not true, appropriate, or necessary.
Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb...
Only here were the police visible in any strength at all...
44-year-old woman seeks caring, honest male of similar age for friendship and fun. Genuine replies ~...
A business can ~ be built and expanded on a sound financial base...
ADV: ADV with group, ADV before v
2.
You use ~ to introduce the thing which must happen before the thing mentioned in the main part of the sentence can happen.
The lawyer is paid ~ if he wins...
The Bank of England insists that it will cut interest rates ~ when it is ready...
ADV: ADV cl/prep
3.
If you talk about the ~ person or thing involved in a particular situation, you mean there are no others involved in it.
She was the ~ woman in Shell’s legal department...
My cat Gustaf was the ~ thing I had - the ~ company.
ADJ: det ADJ
4.
An ~ child is a child who has no brothers or sisters.
ADJ: ADJ n
5.
You use ~ to indicate that something is no more important, interesting, or difficult, for example, than you say it is, especially when you want to correct a wrong idea that someone may get or has already got.
At the moment it is ~ a theory...
‘I’m ~ a sergeant,’ said Clements...
Don’t get defensive, Charlie. I was ~ joking.
= just
ADV: ADV group, ADV before v
6.
You use ~ to emphasize how small an amount is or how short a length of time is.
Child car seats ~ cost about ?10 a week to hire.
...spacecraft guidance systems weighing ~ a few grams...
I’ve ~ recently met him.
ADV: ADV n/adv emphasis
7.
You use ~ to emphasize that you are talking about a small part of an amount or group, not the whole of it.
These are ~ a few of the possibilities...
Only a minority of the people supported the Revolution.
ADV: ADV n emphasis
8.
Only is used after ‘can’ or ‘could’ to emphasize that it is impossible to do anything except the rather inadequate or limited action that is mentioned.
For a moment I could say nothing. I could ~ stand and look...
The police can ~ guess at the scale of the problem.
ADV: modal ADV inf emphasis
9.
You can use ~ in the expressions I ~ wish or I ~ hope in order to emphasize what you are hoping or wishing.
I ~ wish he were here now that things are getting better for me...
= just
ADV: ADV before v emphasis
10.
Only can be used to add a comment which slightly changes or limits what you have just said. (INFORMAL)
It’s just as dramatic as a film, ~ it’s real...
Drop in and see me when you’re ready. Only don’t take too long about it.
= but, except
CONJ
11.
Only can be used after a clause with ‘would’ to indicate why something is not done. (SPOKEN)
I’d invite you to come with me, ~ it’s such a long way...
I’d be quite happy to go. Only I don’t know what my kids would say about living there.
= but
CONJ
12.
You can use ~ before an infinitive to introduce an event which happens immediately after one you have just mentioned, and which is rather surprising or unfortunate.
Ryle tried the Embassy, ~ to be told that Hugh was in a meeting...
He raced through the living room, ~ to find the front door closed.
ADV: ADV to-inf
13.
You can use ~ to emphasize how appropriate a certain course of action or type of behaviour is.
It’s ~ fair to let her know that you intend to apply...
She appeared to have changed considerably, which was ~ to be expected.
ADV: usu ADV adj, also ADV to-inf emphasis
14.
You can use ~ in front of a verb to indicate that the result of something is unfortunate or undesirable and is likely to make the situation worse rather than better.
The embargo would ~ hurt innocent civilians...
She says that legalising prostitution will ~ cause problems.
= just
ADV: ADV before v
15.
If you say you ~ have to or have ~ to do one thing in order to achieve or prove a second thing, you are emphasizing how easily the second thing can be achieved or proved.
Any time you want a babysitter, dear, you ~ have to ask...
We have ~ to read the labels to know what ingredients are in foods.
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR inf emphasis
16.
You can say that something has ~ just happened when you want to emphasize that it happened a very short time ago.
I’ve ~ just arrived...
The signs of an economic revival are ~ just beginning...
PHRASE: PHR before v, PHR adv emphasis
17.
You use ~ just to emphasize that something is true, but by such a small degree that it is almost not true at all.
For centuries farmers there have ~ just managed to survive...
I am old enough to remember the Blitz, but ~ just...
PHRASE: usu PHR before v, PHR with cl/group emphasis
18.
You can use ~ too to emphasize that something is true or exists to a much greater extent than you would expect or like.
I know ~ too well that plans can easily go wrong...
When the new baby comes along it is ~ too easy to shut out the others.
PHRASE: PHR adv/adj emphasis
19.
You can say that you are ~ too happy to do something to emphasize how willing you are to do it.
I’ll be ~ too pleased to help them out with any queries.
PHRASE: PHR adj emphasis
20.
if ~: see if
not ~: see not
the one and ~: see one