solo

1 of 4

noun

so·​lo ˈsō-(ˌ)lō 

plural solos

1

or plural soli ˈsō-(ˌ)lē 

a

: a musical composition for a single voice or instrument with or without accompaniment

b

: the featured part of a concerto or similar work

2

: a performance in which the performer has no partner or associate : something undertaken or done alone

a student pilot's first solo

3

: any of several card games in which a player elects to play without a partner against the other players

solo

2 of 4

adverb

: without a companion : alone

fly solo

solo

3 of 4

adjective

1

: accommodating one person

a solo canoe

2

: of, relating to, or being a solo

a solo performance

a solo flight

3

: hit with no runners on base

a solo home run

solo

4 of 4

verb

soloed; soloing ˈsō-(ˌ)lō-iŋ 

-lə-wiŋ

intransitive verb

: to perform by oneself: such as

a

: to perform a musical solo

b

: to fly an airplane without one's instructor on board

transitive verb

1

: to fly (an aircraft) alone

2

: to climb (something, such as a mountain) alone

Synonyms

Adjective

• alone
• lone
• lonely
• lonesome
• single
• solitary
• unaccompanied

Examples of solo in a Sentence

Noun

She is learning to fly and she flew her first solo yesterday.

Adjective

a student pilot's first solo flight

She left the band last year and started a solo career.

He just issued his first solo album.

Verb

The guitarist solos on practically every song.

She soloed for the first time yesterday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rosé opened up about how reading online hate about her inspired a new song on her upcoming debut solo album, Rosie. —Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024

Since then, Carter has released two additional solo albums. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024

Adverb

Virginia Proctor, born in Prescott, first flew solo in a Luscombe in 1963, taking off from a dirt strip in Wynne. —Kimberly Dishongh, arkansasonline.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Clemson aside, the Huskers’ reversal seemed to put to rest other big-time athletic departments’ temptations to fly solo. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Lisson Gallery in Los Angeles had recently hosted a solo show of the artist’s paintings, titled Flight Paths. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Where Pink Floyd’s Seventies oeuvre obsessed on the brutality of the human condition, Gilmour’s latest solo music concerns itself with humanity’s fragility. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

The song begins with Iommi’s signature doleful blues soloing before kicking into a doomy groove. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 July 2024

The lake is popular with boaters, anglers, swimmers and even rock climbers who solo up the high walls before dropping into the deep water. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, from solo alone, from Latin solus

First Known Use

Noun

1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1712, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1886, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing solo

• free solo
• solo home run

Kids Definition

solo

1 of 3 noun

so·​lo ˈsō-lō 

plural solos

1

or plural soli ˈsō-lē  : a piece of music written to be performed by one voice or one instrument

2

: an action in which there is only one performer

solo

2 of 3 adverb or adjective

: without a companion : alone

solo

3 of 3 verb

soloed; soloing

-(ˌ)lō-iŋ,

-lə-wiŋ

: to perform by oneself

especially : to fly an airplane without one's instructor

Etymology

Noun

from Italian solo "a part in music performed without accompaniment," from solo (adjective) "alone," from Latin solus "alone" — related to desolate, sole entry 4, solitude