solo

plural solos · plural soli

1. entertainmentA piece of music for one performer.
2. A job or performance done by one person alone.
3. gamesA card game similar to whist in which each player plays against the others in turn without a partner
4. A single shot of espresso.
5. Gaelic footballAn instance of soloing the football.

1. not comparableWithout a companion or instructor.

   Represented by Olney Gleason gallery, she was the subject of a 2025 solo show at the MSU Broad Art Museum in Michigan and recently unveiled a permanent installation at the Princeton University Art Museum.

   2026 May 28, Julie Belcove, “Farm Fresh”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 93

2. not comparableentertainmentOf, or relating to, a musical solo.

   I can appreciate that Macca’s band plays faithful to the source material, never putting too obvious a personal spin on the music. It’s sometimes frustrating, especially when the solo part in “Get Back” is screaming for some impromptu finesse, but it’s mostly fair.

   2026 March 29, Matt Mitchell, “In LA, Paul McCartney is king”, in AV Club, archived from the original on 30 Mar 2026

1. not comparableAlone, without a companion.

   Two of us wearing raincoats / Standing solo / In the sun

   1970, Paul McCartney, “Two of Us”, in Let it Be

   2 more examples

   Wake me up before you go-go / 'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo

   1984, “Wake me up before you go-go”, George Michael (lyrics), George Michael (music), performed by Wham!

   The Canadian superstar had been rumoured to be singing a duet with Lady Gaga, but instead went solo on the Eiffel Tower to bring the four-hour event to a stirring climax.

   2024 July 27, Ian Youngs, “Celine Dion makes stirring comeback at Olympics”, in BBC, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2025

present singular third person solos · present singular third person soloes · participle present soloing · participle past soloed · past soloed

1. entertainmentTo perform a solo.
2. To perform something in the absence of anyone else.
3. Gaelic footballTo drop the ball and then toe-kick it upward into the hands.
4. slangTo independently perform an action, especially a challenging task.

plural Solos · plural Soloes

1. A surname