individually

American  

[in-duh-vij-oo-uh-lee] / ˌɪn dəˈvɪdʒ u ə li /

adverb

1. one at a time; separately.

   The delegates were introduced individually.

2. personally.

   Each of us is individually responsible.

3. in an individual or personally unique manner.

   Her interpretation was individually conceived.

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Etymology

Origin of individually

First recorded in 1590–1600; individual + -ly

Explanation

Anything done individually happens one at a time, separate from others. In baseball, each player bats individually. An individual is a single person, or you can refer to an individual thing, which is one thing. Likewise, anything described as happening individually happens one by one or separately. An only child is raised individually. Doctors usually see patients individually, not in groups. If you're in a single-file line, you're lined up individually. Think of the number one when you see or hear the word individually.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

individually

Consider the seemingly simple task called “breakpack”—removing items from cardboard boxes to send out individually.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Liquid chromatography separates the many different chemicals in a mixture so that researchers can study them individually.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

Another judge, poet Raymond Antrobus, told reporters: "All of us individually had a different idea for a shortlist and then it was a tussle."

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The costs of the pots, racks and soil are nominal individually but add up fast at the scale he now operates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

At least not individually, as a single human possibility.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• alone
• independently
• personally