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
The follicular units are then implanted one by one.
—
William Jones, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Ventura, who said the anti-ICE activists tried to steal his phone, was recording them checking cars one by one at a South Minneapolis stoplight, located on the corner of Cedar Avenue and East 32nd Street.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Instead, one by one, MAGA’s leading lights took the stage and began shivving one another in public.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Senior citizens were wheeled out of the lobby one by one and outside into below-freezing temperatures, where they were met by a caravan of ambulances, emergency response vehicles, and more.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 3 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.
William Jones, Sacbee.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Ventura, who said the anti-ICE activists tried to steal his phone, was recording them checking cars one by one at a South Minneapolis stoplight, located on the corner of Cedar Avenue and East 32nd Street.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026
Instead, one by one, MAGA’s leading lights took the stage and began shivving one another in public.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
Senior citizens were wheeled out of the lobby one by one and outside into below-freezing temperatures, where they were met by a caravan of ambulances, emergency response vehicles, and more.
—Allen Devlin, CBS News, 3 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 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
