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Synonyms

one-on-one

American  
[wuhn-on-wuhn, -awn-] / ˈwʌn ɒnˈwʌn, -ɔn- /

adjective

  1. consisting of or involving direct individual competition, confrontation, or communication; person-to-person.

    a one-on-one discussion.

adverb

  1. in direct encounter.

    I'd rather settle this with her one-on-one.

noun

  1. a meeting or confrontation between two persons.

idioms

  1. go one-on-one with, to play directly against (an opposing player).

one-on-one British  

adjective

  1. denoting a relationship or encounter in which someone is involved with only one other person

    a one-on-one meeting
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
one on one More Idioms  

  1. A direct encounter between two persons, especially a conflict, as in The two department heads went one on one regarding shelf space. This slangy expression almost certainly comes from sports. It is commonly used to refer to a two-person basketball game, but is also applied to the interaction of two players on opposing teams in football, soccer, and similar team sports. [c. 1960]

Etymology

Origin of one-on-one

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Karl had the perfect opportunity — a one-on-one interview.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

Bee will learn about users through one-on-one conversations with them and uses those insights to find their most compatible matches on the platform.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Fleuropean retreats run from $3,600 for five days and include accommodation at a picture-perfect château, all-you-can-pick flowers, one-on-one guidance from Avenson and meals, including morning deliveries of breakfast pastries, quiches and triple-crème cheeses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

When Julian Araujo, Celtic's frustrated full-back, ran over and wrestled the ball off him, it was just about the only one-on-one battle Celtic had won.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

He’s a fan of the one-on-one heart-to-heart “let-me-tell-you-a-little-something-Sparrow,” but he’s not a bad guy.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.