alone
She prefers to work alone in the quiet library.
She works by herself in a peaceful environment.
without any others; by oneself
He lives alone in a small apartment.
He lives by himself in a small apartment.
The decision was made alone by the CEO.
The CEO made the decision without consulting others.
Used to emphasize solitude or independence, not necessarily loneliness.
the only one; exclusive
She was alone in her belief that the plan would work.
She was the only person who believed the plan would work.
Often used to highlight uniqueness or exclusivity.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusing 'alone' with 'lonely'
'Alone' describes being by oneself, while 'lonely' describes feeling sad about being alone. Example: 'He lives alone but isn't lonely.'
Gold Rule
Position in sentences
As an adjective, 'alone' follows the noun it modifies (e.g., 'the house alone'). As an adverb, it can appear before or after the verb (e.g., 'She works alone' or 'She alone knows the truth').
Word Origin
From Middle English *al one*, from Old English *ān* (one) + *-lone* (suffix meaning 'all'). The phrase *all one* evolved into *alone* by the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Unlike 'lonely', 'alone' does not imply sadness or emotional distress—it simply denotes physical or social separation. 'Alone' can function as an adjective or adverb.