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

What must be terrifying for any defender facing him, particularly one-on-one, is just how quickly Diomande is capable of changing speed. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 25 July 2026

The company boasts short wait times, one-on-one time with physicians and large, private rooms with baths and televisions, and catered meals, according to prior Statesman reporting. — Rose Evans july 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2026

That one-on-one experience, combined with her corporate background as a Walmart buyer and sales leader, revealed to de Jong an underserved market. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 24 July 2026

On July 11-12, SPW put on a show at the annual StocktonCon comic convention in Stockton, entertaining an ever-growing crowd of wrestling fans with tag-team and one-on-one fights throughout the weekend. — Sacbee.com, 24 July 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