alone

UK: /əˈləʊn/ US: /əˈloʊn/ ,(ə lōn′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•lone /əˈloʊn/   adj. 

1. separate, apart;
   by oneself:
   [be + ~] alone in the wilderness.
2. to the exclusion of all others or all else:
   [after a noun or pronoun] You can't live by bread alone.
3. [be + ~] unequaled;
   unexcelled.
4. only;
   nothing else being necessary:
   [after a noun] Her name alone was enough to draw a crowd.

adv. 

5. by oneself:
   She lives alone.
6. solely;
   exclusively:
   This glassware is sold by us alone.
7. without aid or help:
   The baby can stand alone.

Idioms

8. Idioms leave or let alone, [leave/let + object + ~] to refrain from bothering or interfering with:
   left him alone with his thoughts.
9. Idioms leave or let well enough alone, to leave things as they are:
   Let's leave well enough alone and stop tinkering.
10. Idioms let alone, not to mention:
    too tired to walk, let alone run.

a•lone•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•lone  (ə lōn′), adj. (used predicatively)

1. separate, apart, or isolated from others:
   I want to be alone.
2. to the exclusion of all others or all else:
   One cannot live by bread alone.
3. unique;
   unequaled;
   unexcelled:
   He is alone among his peers in devotion to duty.
4. leave alone:
   • to allow (someone) to be by himself or herself:
     Leave him alone--he wants to rest.
   • to refrain from annoying or interfering with:
     The youngsters wouldn't leave the dog alone, and he finally turned on them.
5. let alone:
   • to refrain from annoying or interfering with.
   • not to mention:
     He was too tired to walk, let alone run.
6. let well enough alone, to be satisfied with the existing situation;
   refrain from attempting to change conditions:
   Marriages are often destroyed by relatives who will not let well enough alone.

adv. 

7. solitarily;
   solely:
   She prefers to live alone.
8. only;
   exclusively.
9. without aid or help:
   The baby let go of the side of the crib and stood alone.

• Middle English al one all (wholly) one 1250–1300

a•lone′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. single, solitary; unaccompanied, unattended.
  Alone, lone, lonely, lonesome all imply being without companionship or association.
  Alone is colorless unless reinforced by all;
  it then suggests solitariness or desolation:
  alone in the house; all alone on an island.
  Lone is somewhat poetic or is intended humorously:
  a lone sentinel.
  Lonely implies a sad or disquieting feeling of isolation.
  Lonesome connotes emotion, a longing for companionship.

Antonyms

• 1. accompanied.

Usage

4, 5. See leave¹. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

alone / əˈləʊn/ adjective , adverb (postpositive)

1. apart from another or others; solitary
2. without anyone or anything else: one person alone could lift it
3. without equal; unique: he stands alone in the field of microbiology
4. to the exclusion of others; only: she alone believed him
5. leave alone, leave be, let alone, let be ⇒ to refrain from annoying or interfering with
6. leave well alone, leave well enough alone, let well alone, let well enough alone ⇒ to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory
7. let alone ⇒ much less; not to mention: they can't afford a meal out, let alone a holiday

Etymology: Old English al one, literally: all (entirely) one