alone
gb/əlˈoʊn/ us/əlˈoʊn/
A1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
property
1
Without anyone else present
Not with other people; by yourself.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is alone
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'alone' with 'lonely'; 'alone' means by yourself, while 'lonely' means feeling sad because you are by yourself.
Synonyms
solitary (More formal or literary; can suggest intentional isolation.)
Antonyms
together (Indicates being with others, the opposite of being alone.)
Collocations
feel alone
|live alone
|stand alone
|leave someone alone
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was alone in the house when the phone rang.
- I prefer to work alone in the mornings.
- He stood alone at the bus stop, waiting.
Learner examples
- I am alone in my room.
- She lives alone in a small house.
- He eats lunch alone at school.
adjective
A2
property
2
Without help or support
Without help from anyone else.
Usage pattern:
[someone] does [something] alone
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'alone' with 'only' when meaning 'without help'; 'alone' describes the subject being unaccompanied in action.
Synonyms
unaided (More formal; used in contexts of effort without assistance.)
Antonyms
assisted (Indicates having help or support from others.)
Collocations
manage alone
|do it alone
|cope alone
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She completed the project alone, without any advice.
- He raised his children alone after his wife passed away.
- You can’t do this alone—you need a team.
Learner examples
- I built this table alone.
- She raised her son alone.
- He fixed the car alone.
adjective
B1
property
3
Being the only one of its kind
Being the only one of something.
Usage pattern:
[something] is alone [in/among/etc.] [group/context]
Synonyms
unique (Emphasizes being different from all others, not just solitary.)
Antonyms
one of many (Indicates belonging to a group rather than standing apart.)
Collocations
stand alone as
|alone among
Themes
descriptions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She was alone among her peers in opposing the plan.
- This theory stands alone as the most convincing explanation.
- He felt alone in his belief that change was possible.
Learner examples
- She is alone in her class with this idea.
- This tree is alone in the field.
- He is alone in his opinion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
alone
IPA
GB/əlˈoʊn/
US/əlˈoʊn/
Syllables & stress
alone (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: alone
Word family
Core family
lonely
adjective A2
loneliness
noun B1
Advanced or less common
aloneness
noun
Expressions
all alone
1/ˈɔl əlˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Completely without others
Completely by yourself, with no one else there or helping you.
Examples
- He was left all alone in the dark room.
- She managed the shop all alone for a week.
leave someone alone
1/lˈiv sˈʌmwˌʌn əlˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Stop bothering someone
To stop talking to, touching, or annoying someone.
Examples
- Leave me alone—I’m trying to read.
- He told his sister to leave him alone while he studied.
stand alone
1/stˈænd əlˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Exist independently
To be separate and not connected to anything else.
Examples
- This building stands alone at the top of the hill.
- Her argument can stand alone without additional evidence.
you are not alone
1/jˈu ˈɑɹ nˈɑt əlˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Others share your experience
Used to say that other people have the same problem or feeling as you.
Examples
- If you feel stressed, you are not alone.
- Many parents struggle with this—you are not alone.