one-on-one

adverb

ˌwən-ȯn-ˈwən How to pronounce one-on-one (audio)
Definition of one-on-onenext
as in face-to-face
in direct confrontation or competition bragged that no one could go one-on-one with her in a game of darts and win

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-on-one
  1. face-to-face
  2. head-to-head
  3. head-on
Adverb
  • That puts additional weight on the value of the face-to-face interview — one of the last remaining stages of the hiring process that can’t be automated.
    — Cami Fateh, Vogue, 22 July 2026
  • Nolan’s latest film, The Odyssey, includes horror scenes in which the Greek hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his men come face-to-face with a cyclops, as well as the witch Circe (Samantha Morton), in a moment that embodies body horror.
    — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of face-to-face
Adverb
  • If necessary, tiebreakers include head-to-head matchups, point differential, total points and, if needed, a random drawing.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • The online competition features ice cream shops from across the country in a bracket-style format, with winners advancing through head-to-head matchups based on public voting.
    — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of head-to-head
Adverb
  • Volvo shared some new crash footage with Popular Science, showing how their design choices protect drivers even during head-on moose collisions.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 18 June 2026
  • On a new episode of Call Her Daddy, Wilde digs in, addressing many of those controversies head-on while eliding others.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 June 2026
Definition of head-on
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.

Browse Nearby Words

one-off
one-on-one
onerous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“One-on-one.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-on-one. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on one-on-one

Nglish: Translation of one-on-one for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of stalwart

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All