one by one
idiom
: separately in a series : one at a time : first one and then another one, etc.
I solved the problems one by one.
The performers took the stage one by one.
Examples of one by one in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But one by one, each of them left until one year Villa realized there was no one left to have a posada with.
—
Andrés Soto, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
The Chinese authorities reportedly turned down the idea, preferring instead to deal with European leaders one by one, and Macron agreed to come without his EU counterpart.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
The rich Redfellows get dispatched one by one in scenes that are fun but empty — neither cathartic nor comic, simply boxes to be checked off to great big poundings of thunder and harpsichords.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Luckily for Su, one by one his rivals either fell or came up short of his winning score.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one by one
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrés Soto, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
The Chinese authorities reportedly turned down the idea, preferring instead to deal with European leaders one by one, and Macron agreed to come without his EU counterpart.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
The rich Redfellows get dispatched one by one in scenes that are fun but empty — neither cathartic nor comic, simply boxes to be checked off to great big poundings of thunder and harpsichords.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Luckily for Su, one by one his rivals either fell or came up short of his winning score.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one by one
Cite this Entry
“One by one.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20by%20one. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
