one
/wʌn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A single person or thing: The number or figure representing the lowest cardinal number; a single unit.
- The number one: The smallest whole number or a numeral representing it.
- A particular but unspecified person or thing: Used to refer to a person or thing of a particular type, often for emphasis.
Adjective:
- Being a single unit or entity: Used before a noun to indicate a single person or thing.
- The same: Identical; not different.
- United or undivided: Acting or speaking in agreement.
- Used for emphasis: Informal intensifier meaning "remarkable" or "notable."
Pronoun:
- A person of a specified type: Used to refer to the speaker or to people in general.
- A thing previously mentioned: Used to avoid repeating a noun.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- He is the best one. (He is the best single person/thing.)
- This is the one I ordered. (This is the specific item I requested.)
- They had lunch at one. (They had lunch at 1 o'clock.)
Adjective:
- She's one girl in a million. (She is a single, unique girl among millions.)
- The nation is one and undivided. (The nation is a single, united entity.)
- That is one fine dog. (That is a remarkably fine dog.)
Pronoun:
- If one wants to succeed, one must work hard. (If a person wants to succeed, that person must work hard.)
- I need a pen. Do you have one? (I need a pen. Do you have a pen?)
Advanced Usage
"The one and only": Used for emphasis to mean unique or famous.
- She is the one and only expert on this topic. (She is the single, unparalleled expert.)
"At one": In agreement or harmony.
- The committee was at one on the decision. (The committee was in complete agreement.)
"One by one": Individually and in sequence.
- The students entered the room one by one. (The students entered individually, in order.)
Variants and Related Words
Oneself (pronoun): A person's own self.
- One must learn to rely on oneself. (A person must learn to be self-reliant.)
One-off (noun/adjective): Something that happens or is made only once.
- The concert was a one-off event. (The concert was a single, non-repeating event.)
Synonyms
- Single: Only one in number.
- Individual: A single, separate person or thing.
- Unit: A single thing or person regarded as complete.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
One up (on someone): To gain an advantage over someone.
- He always tries to one up his colleagues. (He always tries to be better than his colleagues.)
One out: (In baseball) To retire a batter.
- The pitcher needs to one out to end the inning. (The pitcher needs to get one more batter out.)
Related Idioms
It's all one to me: It makes no difference to me; I don't care.
- We can go today or tomorrow; it's all one to me. (Either option is equally acceptable to me.)
Ten to one: Very likely; almost certain.
- Ten to one he'll be late. (It is very probable that he will be late.)
For one: As one example (often used to emphasize a personal opinion).
- I, for one, disagree with the plan. (I, as one person, disagree.)
Noun
- a single person or thing
- he is the best one
- this is the one I ordered
- the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- he has the one but will need a two and three to go with it
- they had lunch at one
Adjective
- eminent beyond or above comparison
- matchless beauty
- the team's nonpareil center fielder
- she's one girl in a million
- the one and only Muhammad Ali
- a peerless scholar
- infamy unmatched in the Western world
- wrote with unmatchable clarity
- unrivaled mastery of her art
- being a single entity made by combining separate components
- three chemicals combining into one solution
- indefinite in time or position
- he will come one day
- one place or another
- used informally as an intensifier
- that is one fine dog
- of the same kind or quality
- two animals of one species
- having the indivisible character of a unit
- a unitary action
- spoke with one voice
- used of a single unit or thing; not two or more
- `ane' is Scottish