one-on-one

adjective or adverb

ˌwən-ȯn-ˈwən 

ˌwən-än-

1

: playing directly against a single opposing player

2

: involving a direct encounter between one person and another

Synonyms

• face-to-face
• head-to-head
• toe-to-toe
• head-on
• eyeball-to-eyeball

Examples of one-on-one in a Sentence

bragged that no one could go one-on-one with her in a game of darts and win

Recent Examples on the Web

By funding one-on-one coaching and specialized guidance, the initiative ensures entrepreneurs receive strategic support in areas like capital planning, hiring, and market expansion. —Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

And Xi has slow-walked a prize that Trump has long sought: a one-on-one meeting. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025

Schmitz says the statement refers to the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin in general, as that in itself seems like a reward. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 12 Aug. 2025

Colson Montgomery focused on line drives as part of his one-on-one sessions with Chicago White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller during the couple of weeks in late April/early May while at the team’s Arizona complex. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for one-on-one

• hydrocodone
• anyone
• everyone
• megaton
• overdone
• overrun
• povidone
• trazodone
• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun