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
The trial of estrogen alone also raised safety concerns, though both types of therapy reduced the risk of bone fractures. —Jean Wactawski-Wende, The Conversation, 2 May 2025 Like any moody kid, all the eponymous Saiki wants is to be left alone and mind his own business, but the need to keep his secret from most of the people around him gets in his way. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025
Adjective
As a result, California has a unique privilege: It, alone among U.S. states, can impose its own emissions standards that are stricter than the nation's. —Camila Domonoske, NPR, 1 May 2025 And Stewart’s not alone on the green monochrome outfit front, either — Oprah Winfrey sported a sage green outfit lately, as well. —Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 1 May 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 time, though, the satellites have not only been significantly upgraded, but represent the largest deployment for Amazon, the company said.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
  • At the other end, the bottom 49% of filers — representing essentially half of filers statewide — paid only 2.9% of the income tax.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
Definition of only
Adjective
  • The report tracks a decline in social connections—especially among young people—and shows that half of adults are lonely, linking it to billions of dollars in health care costs.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Ruth Buzzi, who was so hilarious as the lonely spinster Gladys Ormphby, the lady who swung her handbag as a lethal weapon, on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, has died.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 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
  • Once visitors reach the Downs, there is a statue of Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, who has separately won the Derby once, Preakness five times and Belmont twice.
    — Ayana Archie, NPR, 2 May 2025
  • Clay must be bought separately for $4 per pound and shelves must be rented, at $50 per month, to keep works in process.
    — Remington Miller, Arkansas Online, 1 May 2025
Definition of separately
Adverb
  • Saylor also wrote that the student's record record wouldn't be updated based solely on an unspecified finding in the National Crime Information Center that resulted in her termination.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • As for the cost of solar microgrids, the off-grid study mentioned earlier showed near parity in costs of using microgrids powered with a mix of solar and gas and solely gas-powered ones.
    — Greg Robinson, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of solely
Adjective
  • Fairfield transfer Lou Lopez Senechal played nearly 32 minutes per game in her lone season with the Huskies in 2023-24, leading the team in 3-point percentage and averaging 15.5 points.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2025
  • Evander Kane had Edmonton’s first goal while the lone Kings’ score came from Andrei Kuzmenko, both in the second period.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Definition of lone
Adverb
  • Blue made her tour debut on the 2023 Renaissance World Tour in Paris at just 11 years old.
    — Caché McClay, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • And just to keep things interesting, Kingston wasn’t quite done adventuring.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025
Definition of just
Adjective
  • The single leans into old-school hip-hop influences, and shows the love that both musicians have for the art form.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Instead, the only change Knoblauch made early came when switching out Josh Brown after Game 1 and inserting John Klingberg (the numbers above for the pairing are from a single game).
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 3 May 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 10 May. 2025.

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