sole
gb/sˈoʊl/ us/sˈoʊl/
A2
English
~ 5000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Only one; single
Being the only one; not shared with anyone else.
Usage pattern:
the sole [thing/person/responsibility]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sole' with 'soul', which has a completely different meaning.
Synonyms
only (The most common synonym; slightly less formal than 'sole'.)
|
single (Focuses on the count of one, not exclusivity.)
Antonyms
shared (Indicates something is divided among multiple people.)
|
multiple (Indicates more than one exists.)
Collocations
sole responsibility
|sole survivor
|sole purpose
|sole owner
Themes
descriptions
|quantity
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was the sole survivor of the plane crash.
- This is his sole source of income.
- He took sole responsibility for the mistake.
- The sole purpose of the meeting was to plan the event.
Learner examples
- I am the sole owner of this car.
- She is the sole teacher in the school.
- He has the sole key to the door.
- This is my sole chance to win.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Bottom of foot or shoe
The bottom part of your foot or shoe that touches the ground.
Usage pattern:
the sole of [a shoe/foot]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'sole' with 'soul' in writing because they sound alike.
Synonyms
underside (General term for the bottom part of something.)
Antonyms
upper (Refers to the top part of a shoe, opposite of the sole.)
Collocations
rubber sole
|shoe sole
|worn sole
Themes
clothing
|body
|daily life
Examples
- The soles of his shoes were worn through.
- She felt a sharp stone under her sole.
- Clean the sole of your foot before applying the bandage.
- These boots have thick rubber soles.
Learner examples
- My shoe sole is broken.
- The sole of my foot hurts.
- The boot has a strong sole.
- The soles are dirty after walking outside.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Type of flatfish
A flat fish that people eat, often found in the sea near Europe.
Synonyms
flatfish (General category name for fish like sole and flounder.)
Collocations
Dover sole
|grilled sole
|fresh sole
Themes
food
|animals
|food_drink
Examples
- We ordered grilled sole at the restaurant.
- Sole is often served with lemon and butter.
- Fishermen caught several large soles today.
Learner examples
- I ate grilled sole for dinner.
- Sole is a kind of fish.
- We cooked a fresh sole.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sole
IPA
GB/sˈoʊl/
US/sˈoʊl/
Syllables & stress
sole (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sole)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: sole
Noun
- Base: sole
- Plural: sole, soles
Word family
Expressions
sole purpose
1/sˈoʊl pˈɚpəs/
fixed phrase
Only reason for an action
The only reason for doing something.
Examples
- Her sole purpose in coming here was to help.
- The meeting's sole purpose is to approve the budget.
sole proprietor
1/sˈoʊl pɹəpɹˈaɪətɚ/
fixed phrase
Single owner of a business
A person who owns and runs a business alone.
Examples
- She started as a sole proprietor before expanding her company.
- As a sole proprietor, you are responsible for all debts and profits.
sole proprietor
2/sˈoʊl pɹəpɹˈaɪətɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
only owner of a business
A person who alone owns a business, with no partners and not as a company.
Examples
- As a sole proprietor, he must pay business debts from his personal money.
- She registered as a sole proprietor when she started her online store.
- Many freelancers operate as sole proprietors for tax reasons.
sole survivor
1/sˈoʊl sɚvˈaɪvɚ/
fixed phrase
Only person left alive
The only person still alive after something dangerous happened.
Examples
- He was the sole survivor of the shipwreck.
- He was the sole survivor of the mountain climbing accident.
- The film tells the story of a sole survivor in space.
- The sole survivor of the crash later told her story on television.
- Rescuers found one sole survivor trapped under the rubble.