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
Now, the truth of all their stories — one by one — will begin to be told.
—
ProPublica, 23 July 2025
Perhaps too many early years of watching Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street movies, with its heroes getting picked off one by one, has epigenetically messed with our brains and infused a feeling of grim inevitability.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2025
Notably, one by one, each of them said goodbye to the cameras.
—Sydni Ellis, People.com, 23 July 2025
Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS will flood the zone in sanctuary cities and remove these criminals one by one.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 July 2025
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.
ProPublica, 23 July 2025
Perhaps too many early years of watching Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street movies, with its heroes getting picked off one by one, has epigenetically messed with our brains and infused a feeling of grim inevitability.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2025
Notably, one by one, each of them said goodbye to the cameras.
—Sydni Ellis, People.com, 23 July 2025
Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS will flood the zone in sanctuary cities and remove these criminals one by one.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 21 July 2025
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 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share