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

Private one-on-one sessions span from $40 to $100 per hour; small group and learning center sessions are $19 to $50, and online only sessions are $15 to $60, according to Mathnasium’s website. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Autry is still a handful when he is matched up one-on-one with guards. — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Melanie insisted that, after their one-on-one conversation, her behavior toward Sol changed. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

There’s a distinct vibe shift on September 10, which could send you on an unexpected short trip to connect one-on-one with someone, and in the most grumblingly mundane sense, could make for a day of hellish commutes. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for one-on-one

• anyone
• everyone
• megaton
• overdone
• overrun
• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun
• homespun
• outdone
• outrun