alone 1 of 2

adverb

Definition of alonenext
1
as in independently
without aid or support completely new to the big city, she nevertheless managed to find her way home alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in only
for nothing other than would willingly play professional baseball for the sheer enjoyment alone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

alone

2 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈlōn How to pronounce alone (audio)
1
as in lonely
not being in the company of others no one realized the boy was alone in his room so they all left for the movies without him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in one
being the one or ones of a class with no other members he is alone among the actors of his generation in his exceptional ability to play both comedic and serious parts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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an alone time
a solitary time
a private time
a secluded time
a personal time
an alone group
a solitary group
an individual group
a separated group
a singular group
a separate group
an alone entity
a solo entity
a complete entity
a sole entity
an unique entity
a single entity
an alone system
a solo system
a solitary system
an individual system
an independent system
a separate system
an alone product
a single product
a complete product
a separate product
an independent product
a whole product

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alone distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of alone are desolate, forlorn, lonely, lonesome, lone, and solitary. While all these words 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

When can desolate be used instead of alone?

The meanings of desolate and alone largely overlap; however, desolate implies inconsolable grief at loss or bereavement.

desolate after her brother's death

When is forlorn a more appropriate choice than alone?

In some situations, the words forlorn and alone are roughly equivalent. However, forlorn stresses dejection, woe, and listlessness at separation from one held dear.

a forlorn lost child

How does the word lone relate to other synonyms for alone?

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

a lone robin pecking at the lawn

How do lonely and solitary relate to one another, in the sense of alone?

Lonely adds to solitary a suggestion of longing for companionship.

felt lonely and forsaken

In what contexts can lonesome take the place of alone?

The words lonesome and alone can be used in similar contexts, but lonesome heightens the suggestion of sadness and poignancy.

an only child often leads a lonesome life

When could solitary be used to replace alone?

While in some cases nearly identical to alone, solitary may indicate isolation as a chosen course, but more often it suggests sadness and a sense of loss.

glorying in the calm of her solitary life
left solitary by the death of his wife

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of alone
Adverb
After the announcement, shares were up over 20% for Wednesday alone. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025 But Jarrett had been staying in hotels overnight, leaving the six disabled adults alone, according to police. —Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The victim was found alone in the apartment with trauma to his body, Márquez said. —Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025 Their entire suburban community onscreen is built upon the mundanity of conformity, complete with Janice’s job at a Big Lots-adjacent big box retailer and her husband’s penchant for drinking beers alone at Sizzlin’ Sallies. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alone
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alone
  1. only
  2. lonely
  3. one
  4. separately
  5. solely
  6. lone
  7. just
  8. single
Adverb
  • This deeper level of engagement not only informs new office designs but can increases employees’ sense of ownership of it.
    — Ryan Anderson, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The use of the legislative fund needs approval only from legislative leaders.
    — Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • This keeps us lonely at a time when the loneliness public health crisis is at an all-time high.
    — Priya Vulchi, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Ro, now a police officer, needs help investigating the death 22 years earlier of their classmate, Ricky, killed in a hit-and-run on a lonely county road.
    — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of lonely
Adjective
  • Drinkwater didn't make one appearance in a Chelsea shirt last season, whilst Bakayoko spent the season in Italy on loan at AC Milan.
    — SI.com, SI.com, 3 Aug. 2019
  • Decisions made by engineers today, in other words, will determine not how one car drives but how all cars drive.
    — Johannes Himmelreich, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
Definition of one
Adverb
  • The Tehran Stock Exchange separately rose some 2% on the news.
    — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • While chips are exempt from these tariffs, as the administration is expected to cover them separately, their stocks were cast aside in the broader risk-off plunge.
    — Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of separately
Adverb
  • Diversify This idea is very similar to freelancing, but takes it a step further: why not diversify your skill set and your revenue streams instead of depending solely on one or even two sources (your job and your freelance business)?
    — Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Blanketing our communities with descriptions that focus solely on crime is dishonest and hinders our efforts to achieve peace, especially those of us who have survived the unthinkable loss of a loved one to murder.
    — Clementina Chery, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of solely
Adjective
  • The Flower Mound, Texas native finished his lone football season at Utah with four touchdowns on four receptions for 54 yards in 12 games.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2025
  • The one dubbed Half-Man/Half-Amazin’ answered the leaper’s calling though reputation was his lone reward.
    — Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Definition of lone
Adverb
  • The mechanics of an evacuation just aren’t that complicated.
    — Rascal Kemble-Curry, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2025
  • That happened just seven minutes into the Chelsea game when William Saliba’s pass into midfield was cut out, forcing Lewis-Skelly and Partey into acting as makeshift centre-backs.
    — Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of just
Adjective
  • The singer-songwriter first announced the single in January 2024 with an audio excerpt posted on Instagram.
    — Abigail Lee, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Without a single source of truth, organizations struggle to make informed decisions, manage costs or build resilience in the face of unpredictability.
    — Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of single

Phrases Containing alone

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aloft
alone
aloneness
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Cite this Entry

“Alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alone. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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