solo
- 1Done by one person, with no one else helping or teaching.
Like riding a bike for the first time with no one holding the seat.
She made her first solo flight last week.
He felt ready for a solo climb without a guide.
UsageSay a solo flight or fly solo.
Similarlone, solitary, unaccompanied, single-handed, unassisted
Oppositeaccompanied, guided, joint
- 2Doing something alone, without anyone else along.
Like walking home by yourself with no one beside you.
She flew solo across the ocean for the first time.
He decided to travel solo this summer.
UsageSay go solo.
Similaralone, single-handedly, independently
Note
- 3A piece of music meant to be played or sung by just one person.
Like one person singing on stage while everyone else listens.
She played a beautiful piano solo at the school concert.
The trumpet solos in that song are famous.
UsagePlural: solos.
Note
- 4Made for or having to do with music played by one person.
She bought a book of solo pieces for the piano.
He's learning a solo part for the school concert.
UsageSay a solo part.
- 5A job or show done by just one person, with no help.
Like a one-person show where you do everything yourself.
The student pilot was nervous before her first solo.
Her trip around the world was a true solo, with no crew to help her.
- 6To do something all by yourself, with no one else there.
Like cooking dinner alone when everyone else is out.
She decided to solo the whole project herself.
He soloed the long drive across the country.
Less common meanings
- 7To play or sing a special part of a piece of music alone, while the others play softly or stop.
Like one singer stepping forward while everyone else goes silent.
The guitarist will solo during the second chorus.
She soloed beautifully at last night's jazz show.
- 8
- 9A card game like whist where players bid to win tricks, usually alone against the others but sometimes with one partner.
Like a card game where it's everyone for themselves.
They played a few rounds of solo after dinner.
My grandfather taught me solo when I was young.
Note
- 10A move in Gaelic football where a player kicks the ball up into their own hands while running.
- 11In Gaelic football, to kick the ball up into your own hands while running.
Showing meanings only.
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Origin
It came from Italian "solo," which came from Latin "sōlus."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- English solo came from Italian solo, which came from Latin sōlus. en.wiktionary.org