alone

Meaning

Adj

1. (not-comparable, predicative) By oneself, solitary.
2. (not-comparable, predicative) Lacking peers who share one's beliefs, experiences, practices, etc.
3. (not-comparable, obsolete, predicative) Apart from, or exclusive of, others.
4. (not-comparable, obsolete, predicative) Mere; consisting of nothing further.
5. (not-comparable, obsolete, predicative) Unique; rare; matchless.

Adv

1. (not-comparable, predicative) By oneself; apart from, or exclusive of, others; solo.
2. (not-comparable, predicative) Without outside help.
3. (not-comparable, predicative) Focus adverb, typically modifying a noun and occurring immediately after it.
4. (not-comparable, predicative) Focus adverb, typically modifying a noun and occurring immediately after it.
5. (broadly, not-comparable, predicative) Focus adverb, typically modifying a noun and occurring immediately after it.

Synonyms

only

solitary

single

by oneself

lonely

sole

solely

lone

on one’s own

unaccompanied

one

isolated

just

solo

singly

desolate

empty

unique

solitarily

separate

individually

self

lonesome

odd

unmarried

unequaled

exclusively

unaided

entirely

unequalled

each

lonelily

separately

oneself

independently

independent

helpless

friendless

unparalleled

only one

forlorn

unassisted

apart

single-handed

by itself

by

different

simple

singular

deserted

Translations

seul

allein

solo

solo

alleen

só

sozinho

único

sólo

yalnız

solitario

sol

unico

μόνος

seulement

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈləʊn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: allone

Cognate with Scots: alane

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: alleene

Cognate with Western Frisian: allinne

Cognate with Dutch: alleen

Cognate with Low German: alleen

Cognate with German: allein

Cognate with Danish: alene

Cognate with Swedish: allena

In summary

From Middle English allone, from earlier all oon (“alone”, literally “all one”), contracted from the Old English phrase eall ān (“completely alone”), equivalent to al- (“all”) + one. Cognate with Scots alane (“alone”), Saterland Frisian alleene (“alone”), West Frisian allinne (“alone”), Dutch alleen (“alone”), Low German alleen (“alone”), German allein (“alone”), Danish alene (“alone”), Swedish allena (“alone”). More at all and one. Regarding the different phonological development of alone and one, see the note in one.

Sentences

We have forgotten how to be alone in our thoughts .