individually
Americanadverb
-
one at a time; separately.
The delegates were introduced individually.
-
personally.
Each of us is individually responsible.
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in an individual or personally unique manner.
Her interpretation was individually conceived.
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She said the four were all individually impressive, but that she was proud of their "teamwork" and "camaraderie".
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
State commissioners lack the manpower to evaluate each investment individually.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
The team also plans to examine how different elements of the retreat, including meditation, reconceptualization, and open-label placebo healing, contribute individually and together.
From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026
While some of Salesforce’s FDEs work individually, the company has begun deploying pods consisting of a deployment strategist and two FDEs.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026
He was used to being in a room with just his sisters while Zafoona homeschooled them individually.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.