one

\ ˈwən

How to pronounce one (audio)

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Definition of one

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : being a single unit or thing one day at a time She is one year old.

2a : being one in particular early one morning The Grand Canyon is one place I'd like to visit.

b : being preeminently what is indicated one fine person She is one tough teacher.

3a : being the same in kind or quality both of one species "Puma" and "cougar" are different names for one animal.

b(1) : constituting a unified entity of two or more components The combined elements form one substance.

(2) : being in agreement or union am one with you on this

4a : some sense 1 will see you again one day

b : being a certain individual specified by name one John Doe made a speech

5 : only sense 2a the one person she wanted to marry

one

Definition of one (Entry 2 of 4)

1 : the first whole number above zero — see Table of Numbers

2 : the number denoting unity

3a : the first in a set or series —often used with an attributive nounday one

b : an article of clothing of a size designated one wears a one

4 : a single person or thing has the one but needs the other

5 : a one-dollar bill

at one

: at harmony : in a state of agreement

for one

: as one example I for one disagree

one

Definition of one (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : a certain indefinitely indicated person or thing saw one of his friends

2a : an individual of a vaguely indicated group : anyone at all one never knows

b —used as a third person substitute for a first person pronounI'd like to read more but one doesn't have the time.

3 : a single instance of a specified action felt like belting him one— John Casey

-one

Definition of -one (Entry 4 of 4)

: ketone or related or analogous compound or class of compounds lactone quinone

Synonyms Using One as a Pronoun: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about one

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Using One as a Pronoun: Usage Guide

Pronoun

Sense 2a is usually a sign of a formal style. A formal style excludes the participation of the reader or hearer; thus one is used where a less formal style might address the reader directly. for the consequences of such choices, one has only oneself to thank — Walker Gibson This generic one has never been common in informal use in either British or American English, and people who start sentences with one often shift to another pronoun more natural to casual discourse. when one is learning the river, he is not allowed to do or think about anything else — Mark Twain Use of one to replace a first-person pronoun—sense 2b—has occasionally been criticized. It is more common in British English than in American. I'm watching this pretty carefully and I hope that the issue will come up in the Lords and one may be able to speak about it — Donald Coggan

Examples of one in a Sentence

Adjective There is one minute left in the game. I have a few one-dollar bills in my purse. She is one year old. Noun one, two, three, four, … I don't have any ones. Can you break a five? I'll be there at one. Pronoun “I'll have an iced tea, please.” “I'll have one, too.” Their dog died, but they plan to get another one. “You should wear the blue one.” “The one with the stripes?” “No, the other one.” I'd like to see the ring next to that one. Which one did you like better? He is the one who called the police. That's one possible answer—but not the only one. I would like to read more, but one doesn't have the time.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan. — SI.com, "Chelsea Set to Entertain Offers for Out of Favour Midfield Pair Ahead of Transfer Deadline," 3 Aug. 2019 Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive. — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, "The everyday moral challenges of self-driving cars," 30 Mar. 2018 Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive. — Johannes Himmelreich, Smithsonian, "The Ethical Challenges Self-Driving Cars Will Face Every Day," 27 Mar. 2018 Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan. — SI.com, "Chelsea Set to Entertain Offers for Out of Favour Midfield Pair Ahead of Transfer Deadline," 3 Aug. 2019 Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive. — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, "The everyday moral challenges of self-driving cars," 30 Mar. 2018 Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive. — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, "The everyday moral challenges of self-driving cars," 30 Mar. 2018 Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive. — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, "The everyday moral challenges of self-driving cars," 30 Mar. 2018 Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive. — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, "The everyday moral challenges of self-driving cars," 30 Mar. 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This is a generation primed to handle crisis after crisis, and one that will adapt to extra safety precautions. — David Oliver, USA TODAY, "'N95 mask and hand sanitizer at the ready': The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the future of Gen Z travel," 7 July 2020 The searing episode and its aftermath contributed to a citywide reckoning over police violence against people of color in San Francisco — one that has been renewed in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. — Dominic Fracassa, SFChronicle.com, "SF Mayor Breed nominates former Supervisor Malia Cohen to Police Commission," 6 July 2020 Her government has also framed the decision over whether to allow Huawei gear in New Zealand’s 5G network as country-agnostic and one to be made by bureaucrats, not politicians. — Anna Fifield, Washington Post, "Under Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand pivots on how to deal with China," 6 July 2020 Sending so much love to the love warrior @amandakloots and little Elvis, and an immense hug to any one who is feeling the loss of this giant heart. — Danielle Garrand, CBS News, "Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zach Braff and more stars remember Broadway actor Nick Cordero: "What a light"," 6 July 2020 A fascinating season as the Colts lost their first 13 games under Rod Dowhower, then won their final three after hiring Ron Meyer (away from Purdue), despite trailing at halftime in each one. — Nat Newell, The Indianapolis Star, "Ranking every Indianapolis Colts team: Nos. 31-36, a look at the worst," 6 July 2020 Do any or all of those things for a flavorful drink mix to stash in your fridge, one that goes great in iced coffee, tea, mocktails and cocktails. — cleveland, "Create your own simple syrup for the best summer drinks," 6 July 2020 The year, concentration of carbon dioxide and average temperature rise (above pre-industrial average) are shown for each one. — The Economist, "If mammoths were recreated What if mammoths are brought back from extinction?," 4 July 2020 Hamilton on film is a new plant there, one that will bloom and shift the landscape. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, "The 'Hamilton' movie doesn't throw away its shot at greatness: Review," 4 July 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'one.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Learn More about one

Dictionary Entries near one

(one's) age is catching up to one

Statistics for one

Cite this Entry

“One.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one. Accessed 13 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for one

one

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of one

(Entry 1 of 3)

: having the value of 1

—used to refer to a single person or thing

—used before a noun to indicate that someone or something is part of a group of similar people or things

one

noun

English Language Learners Definition of one (Entry 2 of 3)

: the number 1

US : a one-dollar bill

: one o'clock

one

pronoun

English Language Learners Definition of one (Entry 3 of 3)

: that person or thing

: someone or something that is a part of a particular group

somewhat formal : people in general : any person

See the full definition for one in the English Language Learners Dictionary

one

\ ˈwən

\

Kids Definition of one

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : being a single unit or thing There's one catch.

2 : being a certain unit or thing He arrived early one morning.

3 : being the same in kind or quality All the members of one class will sit together.

4 : not specified We'll meet again one day.

one

Kids Definition of one (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : the number denoting a single unit : 1

2 : the first in a set or series

3 : a single person or thing

one

Kids Definition of one (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : a single member or individual I met one of your friends.

2 : any person One never knows what will happen.

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