one-on-one

adjective or adverb

ˌwən-ȯn-ˈwən 

ˌwən-än-

1

: playing directly against a single opposing player

2

: involving a direct encounter between one person and another

Synonyms

• eyeball-to-eyeball
• face-to-face
• head-on
• head-to-head
• mano a mano
• toe-to-toe

Examples of one-on-one in a Sentence

bragged that no one could go one-on-one with her in a game of darts and win

Recent Examples on the Web

Starting with the first quarter moon in Cancer on April 4, Luna will shake up your committed seventh house of partnerships, agreements and one-on-one connections, triggering emotional confrontations with significant others and business partners. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025

This principle ensures team members feel recognized for their strengths, while constructive criticism is shared respectfully one-on-one. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

President Donald Trump's decision to pull back aid from Ukraine amid its efforts to fight off Russia's invasion marked a dramatic break with other allies, while his decision to engage Moscow in direct, one-on-one negotiations has left the continent's diplomats back on their heels. —Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2025

Pass rushers, tackles, they get isolated one-on-one, and then obviously the quarterback position. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for one-on-one

• hydrocodone
• anyone
• everyone
• megaton
• overdone
• overrun
• povidone
• trazodone
• begun
• grandson
• gudrun
• handgun