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.
The group sent a letter to the Florida Department of Emergency Management seeking permission from the state to provide one-on-one chaplaincy services at the detention center, a practice that’s common in most other correctional facilities in Florida. Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025 To complete the hat-trick just after half-time, one-on-one with the ’keeper, was great. Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 The gala — which welcomed guests including Michael Kassan, Syrinthia Studer and Kathryn Busby — went on to raise over $730,000 to support the organization’s one-on-one youth mentoring programs. Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025 Williams and Hunter used to be offseason workout partners, and that involved one-on-one work until a matchup Hunter won during his dominant Minnesota Vikings tenure (2015-23). Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2025.

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