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

“But you can’t do that with the hair. You have to build them individually and then solder them in.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

She said the four were all individually impressive, but that she was proud of their "teamwork" and "camaraderie".

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

When tested individually, capsaicin showed the strongest anti-inflammatory effect.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

State commissioners lack the manpower to evaluate each investment individually.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

If there was little they could do individually to turn the situation around, perhaps there was something they could do collectively.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Related Words

• alone
• independently
• personally