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

But an Oswaldo Cabrera solo shot put the Yankees down one in the fifth before a force out off the bat of Cody Bellinger tied the game at three. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025

The National’s Matt Berninger has released another single from his second solo album. —Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 18 Apr. 2025

Adverb

Authorities have not clarified if anyone was onboard or if Davis was fishing solo in the three-day event, which was the third stop on the Tackle Warehouse Invitational circuit. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 17 Apr. 2025

Present them solo or as part of a pampering gift basket with a fluffy robe. —Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The island feels calmer and cleaner, now attracting a wider mix of visitors: honeymooners, families and solo travelers alike. —Livia Hengel, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Jin was the seventh, and final, member of BTS to release a full solo LP and his second album will drop while ARMY awaits word on when the full band will reunite following a nearly three-year hiatus to allow its members to complete mandatory South Korean military service. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2025

Verb

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

C’mon, John Muir soloed up and down it with clogs made of granite. —Maya Silver, Outside Online, 6 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