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Synonyms

one-on-one

American  
[wuhn-on-wuhn, -awn-] / ˈwʌn ɒnˈwʌn, -ɔn- /

adjective

  1. consisting of or involving direct individual competition, confrontation, or communication; person-to-person.

    a one-on-one discussion.

adverb

  1. in direct encounter.

    I'd rather settle this with her one-on-one.

noun

  1. a meeting or confrontation between two persons.

idioms

  1. go one-on-one with, to play directly against (an opposing player).

one-on-one British  

adjective

  1. denoting a relationship or encounter in which someone is involved with only one other person

    a one-on-one meeting
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
one on one More Idioms  

  1. A 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]

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.

“The biggest part of coaching a quarterback one-on-one, of mentoring, is building that trust,” Cutcliffe said.

From The Wall Street Journal

He’s not just the most lethal one-on-one scorer in the NBA—he’s put up higher marks in both categories than Jordan in ‘96 and Curry in ‘16.

From The Wall Street Journal

And then it’s also, ‘Hey, you want to play us man-to-man, one-on-one, I’m enough of a sniper as a passer to make you pay for it.’

From Los Angeles Times

For the show, attendees have a one-on-one encounter with the man in the Tuskhut.

From Los Angeles Times

There is often a lot of trial and error to find the right path through menopause, and women need to be able to have the freedom and flexibility to work one-on-one with their doctor.

From Los Angeles Times

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.