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

Decked out in soft pink and vintage accents, this cozy one-bedroom escape is perfect for a girls' weekend or solo retreat. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 11 May 2025

Of course, Tina would go on to helm her own solo line, Miss Tina by Tina Knowles, and become a respected philanthropist and activist. —Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 11 May 2025

Adverb

Going solo is not something that Tindall appears to want to do. —Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 May 2025

The celebrity fashion matchmaker decided to go solo in 2023 after two decades of working at Italian fashion houses. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 12 May 2025

Adjective

While Jin made his first solo visit last year, BTS has a long history on The Tonight Show. —Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 14 May 2025

Since then, musicians have focused on their solo careers, although the group has reissued several of their formative albums in recent years. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2025

Verb

Competition winners are also eligible to solo with the Arkansas Symphony and its youth ensembles at a spring 2026 Side-by-Side concert. —Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 23 Apr. 2025

Having won the previous two editions of Paris-Roubaix, soloing to victory from 60km out last season, the Dutchman was bidding to become the first man to win this race three times in a row since Francesco Moser between 1978 and 1980. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for solo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

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