Words / B2

SOHL/səʊl/

Sole means only, not shared; also the underside of a foot or shoe: the sole carer; the sole of the boot. Only is everyday; only / single are close. She was the sole carer. Mix-up: soul is spirit (next entries); solely is the adverb (already elsewhere); a sole is also a fish. Do not write sole for “soulful”.

Meaning

Only; not shared with anyone else; also the underside of a foot or shoe.

Examples

• “She was the sole carer in the household, the bursary form showed.”
• “The sole of the boot tore on the field trip, which is the underside sense.”

Good to know

the sole + noun; sole responsibility. Everyday: only. Trap: soul / solely. Forms, law, and PE. Only, or a foot underside — not spirit.

Near in meaning

only

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