alone

1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈlōn 

1

: separated from others : isolated

was alone in the office

2

: exclusive of anyone or anything else : only

She alone knows what happened.

3

a

: considered without reference to any other

The children alone would eat that much.

b

: incomparable, unique

They are alone among their contemporaries in this respect.

aloneness

ə-ˈlōn-nəs 

noun

alone

2 of 2

adverb

1

: solely, exclusively

The blame is mine alone.

2

: without aid or support

He said he could do it alone.

Synonyms

Adjective

• lone
• lonely
• lonesome
• single
• solitary
• solo
• unaccompanied

Adverb

• independently
• single-handed
• single-handedly
• singly
• solely
• unaided
• unassisted

Choose the Right Synonym for alone

alone, solitary, lonely, lonesome, lone, forlorn, desolate mean isolated from others.

alone stresses the objective fact of being by oneself with slighter notion of emotional involvement than most of the remaining terms.

everyone needs to be alone sometimes

solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course

glorying in the calm of her solitary life

but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

left solitary by the death of his wife

lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

lone may replace lonely or lonesome but typically is as objective as alone.

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

Examples of alone in a Sentence

Adjective

This wine goes well with food, but is also very good alone.

I got him alone and asked him what had really happened.

She lived alone for many years.

She doesn't mind being alone because she never feels lonely.

He was alone with his thoughts.

He felt very alone when he went away to school.

Adverb

The police believe the criminal acted alone.

The price alone is enough to discourage people.

The special effects alone make the movie worth seeing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Per Sanchez’s standard policy, Olea and other coaches were not supposed to be at the gym alone with students. —Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024

The park’s character performers are not alone in their advocacy for better treatment. —Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Calacanis is not alone in noticing the shifting investor landscape. —María Soledad Davila Calero, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024

Carter isn't alone in recognizing the hazards cranes can present to pedestrians, cyclists, and workers alike. —Kayla Jackson, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024

Waking now, alone in bed, hearing the husband humming to himself in the shower, the sound of the shower not disturbing but soothing. —Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

In this riotous, satirical comedy, where comic, physical exertion rules the day, why does this scene stand alone in its effective pulchritude? —David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

Jackie lingers in the nest alone for about two minutes, then leaves the eggs completely unattended to. —Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024

Epner wasn't alone in thinking that could be the sentencing outcome. —Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Adverb

Money alone, of course, doesn’t determine winners or losers. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024

In 2024 alone, there have already been 47 shootings at U.S. schools as of April 2, including one on Jan. 4, 2024, that left a student dead and seven people injured, including the principal, at Perry High School in Iowa. —Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2024

Advertisement Switching from gasoline engines to electric cars alone won’t solve all of our environmental and public health problems. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Eighty-two rich Norwegians with a combined net wealth of about 46 billion kroner ($4.3 billion) left the country in 2022-2023, with 34 moving out last year alone, according to data from the Finance Ministry. —Ott Ummelas, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024

If walking alone, keep one headphone or earbud out of their ear. —Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2024

While knowledge of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates won’t alone secure a position as an AI engineer, Argenti believes that coupling it with technical expertise promises enhanced code quality. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

Jed Brewer, Good Loud Media Reach Out to Your Peers for Help Personal branding doesn’t mean branding alone, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024

The sun sits alone at the center of our solar system — but it was actually born in a giant cloud alongside thousands of other stars. —Connie Hanzhang Jin, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English al-one, alone, allone, from al, all all entry 2 + one one entry 1

Adverb

Middle English, derivative of al-one, alone alone entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing alone

• go it alone
• leave alone
• leave/let well (enough) alone
• leave well alone
• leave well enough alone
• let alone
• let well enough alone
• stand-alone

Kids Definition

alone

1 of 2 adjective

ə-ˈlōn 

1

: separated from others

alone in her room

2

: not including anyone or anything else

money alone is not enough

alone

2 of 2 adverb

1

: solely sense 1

the proof rests on that statement alone

2

: without company, aid, or support

did it alone