one-on-one

adjective or adverb

ˌwən-ȯn-ˈwən 

ˌwən-än-

1

: playing directly against a single opposing player

2

: involving a direct encounter between one person and another

Synonyms of one-on-one

• face-to-face
• head-to-head
• toe-to-toe
• head-on
• eyeball-to-eyeball

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

Garden Grove Unified also offers free college guidance, with one-on-one help for high school students trying to apply to college or trade schools without strong family experience. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026

Wondering how Sag matches up with your sign as a friend, a lover, a colleague, or in terms of any other one-on-one relationship? —Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026

Best for one-on-one support Anthem Tax Services helps taxpayers address IRS debt through services such as payment plans, penalty relief, Offer in Compromise applications and IRS notice assistance. —Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026

Unrivaled was all-in on one-on-one in its inaugural season, then took it up a notch this week, with 32 players competing in games to 11 and the winner taking home $200,000. —Dan Shanoff, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for one-on-one

• hydrocodone
• anyone
• everyone
• megaton
• overdone
• overrun
• povidone
• trazodone
• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun