Solo Meaning
/ˈsoʊ.loʊ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA piece of music for one performer.
nounA job or performance done by one person alone.
Sentence Examples
The concert began with a piano solo.
Lindbergh's solo nonstop transatlantic flight was a remarkable accomplishment.
The song features an extended guitar solo.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The talented musician performed a ____ piano piece completely without any accompaniment.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The famous violinist performed a beautiful ____ that left the entire audience in complete silence.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Italian solo, from Latin sōlus, probably related to se (“himself”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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 26, Julie Belcove, “Farm Fresh”, in Architectural Digest, volume 83, number 4, page 93:
"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:
"Two of us wearing raincoats / Standing solo / In the sun"
— 1970, Paul McCartney, “Two of Us”, in Let it Be:
"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:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The talented musician performed a ____ piano piece completely without any accompaniment.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The famous violinist performed a beautiful ____ that left the entire audience in complete silence.