alone

1 of 2

adjective

1
: separated from others : isolated
was alone in the office
2
: exclusive of anyone or anything else : only
She alone knows what happened.
3
a
: considered without reference to any other
The children alone would eat that much.
b
: incomparable, unique
They are alone among their contemporaries in this respect.
aloneness noun

alone

2 of 2

adverb

1
: solely, exclusively
The blame is mine alone.
2
: without aid or support
He said he could do it alone.
Choose the Right Synonym for alone

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others.

alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

left solitary by the death of his wife

lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

Examples of alone in a Sentence

Adjective This wine goes well with food, but is also very good alone. I got him alone and asked him what had really happened. She lived alone for many years. She doesn't mind being alone because she never feels lonely. He was alone with his thoughts. He felt very alone when he went away to school. Adverb The police believe the criminal acted alone. The price alone is enough to discourage people. The special effects alone make the movie worth seeing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
In most cases, the person was alone when the attack occurred, according to the department. Raja Razek, CNN, 24 Mar. 2024 Trump is not alone as a man of the right in breaking with traditional right-wing ideology. CBS News, 23 Mar. 2024 Understanding the reasons can help parents feel less alone and hopefully drive change. Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 Graydon Herriott Being alone in this Jurassic Park wilderness is an exceptional and eerie experience. Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024 But the iconic brand, owned by Hilton, is hardly alone in selling rarefied real estate. Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024 Recent data suggests that Bell isn’t alone in his response to simply drop out. Jordan P. Hickey, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024 Keith, an animal rights attorney, doesn't rely on legislation alone to save animals used in product testing. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 The Warriors aren’t alone among the West in dealing with injuries. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Kids can wear the two coats zipped together as a warm winter jacket for skiing and outdoor activities, the shell alone as a raincoat, or the insulated jacket alone for mid-range temperatures in dry weather. Maya Polton, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 Russians are electing the position of president alone; the next legislative elections, which form the make-up of the Duma, are scheduled for 2026. Rob Picheta, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Dern, too, cites Bridesmaids as an example of Wiig’s skill, but using a dramatic scene, one where Annie is crying alone on her sofa after having alienated her friends. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Herold surrendered, leaving Booth alone inside the barn. Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024 With 170 million users in the United States alone, TikTok would carry a high price tag, which few companies or individuals could afford. Sapna Maheshwari, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Zayn Malik Celebrates 'Amazing' Daughter Khai's Third Birthday: 'Couldn't Live Without You' The outlet stated that Malik spent many years writing the album alone at his Pennsylvania home and then contacted the Grammy-winning producer. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 The county called on residents to check on people in their communities and social circles during the hot season, especially those who are older or living alone. Anita Snow, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 Your sun sign is dictated by the time and place you were born (download a free chart here via all-star astrologist Chani Nicholas) and many people swear by it as a defining aspect of their personality—that’s why there are about 30 million users on Co-Star alone. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English al-one, alone, allone, from al, all all entry 2 + one one entry 1

Adverb

Middle English, derivative of al-one, alone alone entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of alone was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near alone

Cite this Entry

“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alone. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

alone

1 of 2 adjective
1
: separated from others
alone in her room
2
: not including anyone or anything else
money alone is not enough

alone

2 of 2 adverb
1
: solely sense 1
the proof rests on that statement alone
2
: without company, aid, or support
did it alone

More from Merriam-Webster on alone

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