single-handed

[sing-guhl-han-did]

adjective

1. accomplished or done by one person alone.

   a single-handed victory; single-handed sailing.

2. by one's own effort; unaided.

adverb

1. by oneself; alone; without aid.

   He built the garage single-handed.

single-handed

adjective

1. unaided or working alone

   a single-handed crossing of the Atlantic

2. having or operated by one hand or one person only

Other Word Forms

• single-handedly adverb
• single-handedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of single-handed¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

Startups require little more than an idea and a laptop, dangling the prospect that founders can single-handedly run billion-dollar enterprises.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He should have been more a part of the conversation last year after single-handedly almost overcoming an appalling defence to drag the Bengals into the play-offs.

Read more on BBC

It’s a tough assignment to drop into a film for just a couple of scenes, create a complex character and single-handedly spark the protagonist’s emotional unraveling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

According to Munoz’s report and interviews with department sources, Lloyd was almost single-handedly responsible for breaking the Mission case open.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After her firing, Bannon said he was “pushing” for Antoni to get the job, calling him “the guy that almost single-handedly took it down by going through their numbers.”

Read more on Salon

When To Use

What does single-handed mean?

Single-handed is used to describe something done or accomplished alone—without help from anyone, as in a single-handed attempt.It can also be used as an adverb meaning the same thing as single-handedly, as in Carol completed the project single-handed—she did every last thing herself. Single-handed is also used in situations in which someone has done something without help from anyone else even though they were available, as in She beat the other team single-handed—scoring the final 15 points of the game by herself. Example: This usually takes three or four people, so how did you manage to do it single-handed?