Definition of one
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 1 will see you again one dayb : being a certain individual specified by name one John Doe made a speech
5 : only 2a the one person she wanted to marry
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of one in a Sentence
There is one minute left in the game.
I have a few one-dollar bills in my purse.
She is one year old.
Recent Examples of one from the Web
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Disappearance is efficient because one disappearance can intimidate many opponents.
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.
Origin and Etymology of one
Middle English on, an, from Old English ān; akin to Old High German ein one, Latin unus (Old Latin oinos), Sanskrit eka
Other Number-Related Terms
one
Definition of one
1 : the first whole number above zero — see number table
2 : the number denoting unity
3a : the first in a set or series —often used with an attributive noun day oneb : 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
Examples of one in a Sentence
one, two, three, four, …
I don't have any ones. Can you break a five?
I'll be there at one.
Recent Examples of one from the Web
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The organization also provides free retreats once a year for those close to the one who died.
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No one answered the door on Wednesday at an apartment tied to him.
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And the one in charge, Mark Richt, received his own honor Wednesday when he was named to the preseason watch list for the Bobby Dodd Trophy that honors the Coach of the Year at season’s end.
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And no one can hold a candle to her dancing skills.
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And the partisan landscape for these contests will be nearly as skewed toward Democrats as the Senate landscape is skewed toward Republicans, with the GOP defending 26 seats and Democrats just 9 (one, in Alaska, is held by an independent).
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The biggest day of the convention has historically been Saturday, and this year promises to be a big one, too.
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In Loch Ness, restaurateur Beach bought a case of Buckie to rest in a Glenfarclas whisky barrel, creating a Buckfarclas monster no one asked for.
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However, all that power will reportedly bring back a feature no one wants: the camera bump.
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.
Origin and Etymology of one
see 1one
Other Number-Related Terms
one
Definition of one
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 knowsb —used as a third person substitute for a first person pronoun I'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
Using one as a 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
“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.
Origin and Etymology of one
see 1one
-one
Definition of -one
: ketone or related or analogous compound or class of compounds lactone quinone
Origin and Etymology of -one
International Scientific Vocabulary, alteration of -ene
ONE Defined for English Language Learners
one
playDefinition of one for English Language Learners
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: having the value of 1
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—used to refer to a single person or thing
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—used before a noun to indicate that someone or something is part of a group of similar people or things
one
Definition of one for English Language Learners
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: the number 1
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: a one-dollar bill
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: one o'clock
one
Definition of one for English Language Learners
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: that person or thing
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: someone or something that is a part of a particular group
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: people in general : any person
ONE Defined for Kids
Definition of one for Students
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.
Definition of one for Students
1 : the number denoting a single unit : 1
2 : the first in a set or series
3 : a single person or thing
Definition of one for Students
1 : a single member or individual I met one of your friends.
2 : any person One never knows what will happen.
Learn More about one
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See words that rhyme with one Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for one Spanish Central: Translation of one Nglish: Translation of one for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of one for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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