alone

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.

let alone. let¹ (def. 16).

Origin of alone

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

synonym study for alone

1. 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.

usage note for alone

7, 9. See leave¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM alone

a·lone·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for alone

But the feeling of aloneness, of isolation, never goes away.
Charles Frazier in the Fast Lane|Malcolm Jones|October 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
This aloneness fell upon them like a thing that had a pulse and was alive.
The Courage of Marge O'Doone|James Oliver Curwood
There was only the sea and the sky and the stars, only the perfection of aloneness, Le rve de rester ensemble sans dessein.
Unaddressed Letters|Anonymous
Yet in that aloneness, when companionship was more precious than anything else on earth, neither had cried quits.
The Country Beyond|James Oliver Curwood

He found a healing chastity in his sudden aloneness; it roused in him an almost angry desire to recover his lost monasticism.
The Kingdom Round the Corner|Coningsby Dawson
Wilder had cruised away, and the young consul was conscious of a sense of aloneness.
David Dunne|Belle Kanaris Maniates

British Dictionary definitions for alone

alone

/ (əˈləʊn) /

adjective, adverb (postpositive)

apart from another or others; solitary

without anyone or anything elseone man alone could lift it

without equal; uniquehe stands alone in the field of microbiology

to the exclusion of others; onlyshe alone believed him

leave alone, leave be, let alone or let be to refrain from annoying or interfering with

leave well alone, leave well enough alone, let well alone or let well enough alone to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory

let alone much less; not to mentionhe can't afford beer, let alone whisky

Word Origin for alone

Old English al one, literally: all (entirely) one

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with alone

alone

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

alone

adjective (used predicatively)

adverb

SYNONYMS FOR alone

ANTONYMS FOR alone

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Idioms for alone

Origin of alone

synonym study for alone

usage note for alone

OTHER WORDS FROM alone

Example sentences from the Web for alone

British Dictionary definitions for alone

adjective, adverb (postpositive)

Word Origin for alone

Idioms and Phrases with alone

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

alone

adjective (used predicatively)

adverb

SYNONYMS FOR alone

ANTONYMS FOR alone

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Idioms for alone

Origin of alone

synonym study for alone

usage note for alone

OTHER WORDS FROM alone

Words related to alone

Example sentences from the Web for alone

British Dictionary definitions for alone

adjective, adverb (postpositive)

Word Origin for alone

Idioms and Phrases with alone