one-on-one

adjective or adverb

ˌwən-ȯn-ˈwən How to pronounce one-on-one (audio)
ˌwən-än-
1
: playing directly against a single opposing player
2
: involving a direct encounter between one person and another

Examples of one-on-one in a Sentence

bragged that no one could go one-on-one with her in a game of darts and win
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
During this one-on-one time, participants get a coaching-mentoring mash-up where DeLazaro asks questions, coaches, and shares her own experiences. Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 These one-on-one conversations sound remarkably similar to one another. Judy Berman, Time, 26 June 2025 Most visual ads compete with other adjacent ads while trying to capture a viewer’s attention, whereas audio creates a one-on-one, voice-first experience that is built on a more authentic, concrete foundation. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 26 June 2025 Pay attention to the emotional dynamics of your one-on-one connections, Capricorn. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for one-on-one

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-on-one was in 1940

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Cite this Entry

“One-on-one.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-on-one. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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