solitary
Americanadjective
-
alone; without companions; unattended.
a solitary passer-by.
- Synonyms:
- lone
-
living alone; avoiding the society of others.
a solitary existence.
-
by itself; alone.
one solitary house.
-
characterized by the absence of companions.
a solitary journey.
-
done without assistance or accompaniment; done in solitude.
solitary chores.
-
being the only one.
a solitary exception.
-
characterized by solitude, as a place; unfrequented, secluded, or lonely.
a solitary cabin in the woods.
-
Zoology. living habitually alone or in pairs, as certain wasps.
adjective
-
following or enjoying a life of solitude
a solitary disposition
-
experienced or performed alone
a solitary walk
-
(of a place) unfrequented
-
(prenominal) single; sole
a solitary speck in the sky
-
having few companions; lonely
-
(of animals) not living in organized colonies or large groups Compare social gregarious
solitary bees
a solitary elephant
-
(of flowers) growing singly
noun
-
a person who lives in seclusion; hermit; recluse
-
informal short for solitary confinement
Other Word Forms
- solitarily adverb
- solitariness noun
- unsolitary adjective
Etymology
Origin of solitary
1300–50; Middle English < Latin sōlitārius alone, by itself, solitary, equivalent to sōlit ( ās ) solitude ( sōl ( us ) sole 1 + -itās -ity ) + -ārius -ary
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.
Make copies of every single solitary scrap of paper!
From Salon
Maybe my sentence was solitary confinement for years and years.
From Literature
New research reveals that bull sharks form social relationships with specific "friends," challenging the long-standing belief that these predators live mostly solitary lives.
From Science Daily
He needed some way of summoning the cub when it was off on one of its solitary journeys: some way quieter than a howl.
From Literature
In the middle of it, one solitary switchboard stall, and in front of it, a single stool.
From Literature
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.
