one-on-one
adjective
consisting of or involving direct individual competition, confrontation, or communication; person-to-person.
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one-on-one
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one on one
one on oneA direct encounter between two persons, especially a conflict, as in The two department heads went one on one regarding shelf space. This slangy expression almost certainly comes from sports. It is commonly used to refer to a two-person basketball game, but is also applied to the interaction of two players on opposing teams in football, soccer, and similar team sports. [c. 1960]
one-on-one
American
[wuhn-on-wuhn, -awn-]
/ ˈwʌn ɒnˈwʌn, -ɔn- /
adjective
adverb
noun
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one-on-ones
plural
idioms
one-on-one
British
adjective
one on one
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of one-on-one
An Americanism dating back to 1965–70
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.
See Examples For:
In a one-on-one fight, the majority of what’s needed is communication skills.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
He lofted a finish well wide in the 77th minute with his weaker right foot when one-on-one with Sanchez.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
“That’s not something that a large corporation could really capture unless they’re having the one-on-one conversations with each of these buyers, as I am,” Adeyemo said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
“It was kind of those one-on-one on the inside before they went zone,” Hamby said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Mom never liked playing in the water—she preferred to relax on the balcony while Dad took us kids on adventures—but I adored the rare afternoon when I skipped surfing to spend one-on-one time with Mom.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
What about dealing with Haaland one on one?
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Texas A&M’s M.B.A. candidates are required to do intense preparation before career fairs, and a counselor met with him one on one to help him prepare for specific interviews and practice salary negotiations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
“I just saw him one on one with no safety coverage,” Brown said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2025
The leaders then spent more than half an hour talking one on one, before a classic of the Trumpian genre – a rolling, free-wheeling question-and-answer session with reporters, lasting more than an hour.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2025
“You ain’t man enough to go one on one against the Great Santini.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
“The years of ‘Your Special Day’ of one-on-ones with each grandkid are some of their fondest memories,” the family said in her obituary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025
According to the Microsoft report, nearly three-quarters of people managers believe more guidance on what to prioritize would improve their performance, but more than two-thirds say their managers have never given clear guidance in one-on-ones.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2023
When the political leaders come together there is a marathon series of talks, both in big groups, and in one-on-ones known as "bilaterals".
From BBC ● May 21, 2023
Dear Miss Manners: Being blown off for meetings, including my one-on-ones, has taken the wind out of my sails, professionally.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 19, 2023
In one-on-ones, advantage is to the shooter, especially if he’s as good as this guy.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
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.
