one-to-one
Americanadjective
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Also (of the relationship between two or more groups of things) corresponding element by element.
adjective
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(of two or more things) corresponding exactly
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denoting a relationship or encounter in which someone is involved with only one other person
one-to-one tuition
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maths characterized by or involving the pairing of each member of one set with only one member of another set, without remainder
noun
Etymology
Origin of one-to-one
First recorded in 1870–75
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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.
The inquiry heard Elise should have been receiving one-to-one observations.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
But with the United States seemingly less interested in the alliance, New Delhi and Canberra have shown an increasing willingness to work one-to-one on matters of defence.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
They banded together and soon showed up at school-board meetings to demand more oversight of the district’s digital tools and the right to approve one-to-one devices used by their kids in class.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
If there’s any hope of moving forward on a human, one-to-one level, how we treat each other must be drastically reexamined.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2026
“I know there is some complicated mathematical equation that figures that out, but no, I don’t think it’s a one-to-one ratio thing. We can ask after this is all over.”
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
