alone

American  

[uh-lohn] / əˈloʊn /

adjective

1. separate, apart, or isolated from others.

   I want to be alone.

   Synonyms:

   unattended, unaccompanied, solitary, single

2. to the exclusion of all others or all else.

   One cannot live by bread alone.

3. unique; unequaled; unparalleled.

   He is alone among his peers in devotion to duty.

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adverb

1. solitarily; solo.

   She prefers to live alone.

2. only; exclusively.

   You alone hold the key to your happiness.

3. without aid or help.

   The baby let go of the side of the crib and stood alone.

idioms

1. let alone. let.

2. leave / let well enough alone, to be satisfied with the existing situation; refrain from attempting to change conditions.

   Marriages are often destroyed by relatives who will not let well enough alone.

3. leave alone. leave.

alone British  

/ əˈləʊn /

adjective

1. apart from another or others; solitary

2. without anyone or anything else

   one man alone could lift it

3. without equal; unique

   he stands alone in the field of microbiology

4. to the exclusion of others; only

   she alone believed him

5. to refrain from annoying or interfering with

6. to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory

7. much less; not to mention

   he can't afford beer, let alone whisky

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alone More Idioms  

1. see go it alone; leave someone alone; leave well enough alone; let alone.

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Usage

See leave ¹.

Related Words

Alone, lone, lonely, lonesome all imply being without companionship or association. Alone is colorless unless reinforced by all; it then suggests solitariness or desolation: alone in the house; all alone on an island. Lone is somewhat poetic or is intended humorously: a lone sentinel. Lonely implies a sad or disquieting feeling of isolation. Lonesome connotes emotion, a longing for companionship.

Other Word Forms

• aloneness noun

Etymology

Origin of alone

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English al one all (in the sense “wholly”) one

Example Sentences

A birdie at No. 6 put McIlroy alone in second at 13 under, then Penge dropped another shot off the pace with a bogey at No. 7.

From Los Angeles Times

That only about 2% of high school athletes go on to play at a Division 1 college, let alone sign big NIL deals, hasn’t dissuaded many families.

From The Wall Street Journal

But a few months after his baptism, headlines appeared about a "quiet revival" of Christian belief among young people, which made him feel less alone.

From BBC

Despite competing at a high level athletically, she's not alone in her experience and young people are struggling with burnout in the workplace.

From BBC

These conversations alone led nearly 1,000 previously hesitant parents and young people to take up the offer of vaccination.

From BBC

Related Words

• only
• unattended