Laxi Dictionary

American Dictionary

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Definition one in American English

one determiner, number, pronoun

determiner, number, pronoun
/wʌn/

One can be used in the following ways:

as a number: We have only one child.How much does one pound of apples cost?

as a determiner: He grew roses on one side of his garden, and vegetables on the other.We’ll meet again one day.

as a pronoun (the plural of this pronoun is ones and the possessive is one’s): It’s a good book, but his last one was better.One has to trust one’s family.They are the ones who suffered. (followed by “of”): Sydney is one of the world’s most exciting cities.

1

the number 1

Example

I've only got one hour free.

Example

They have one daughter and five sons.

Example

Over one hundred people were killed in the disaster.

Example

It was a one-story building with big windows.

Synonyms and related words
billion cardinal number crore
2

used for referring to a single person or thing when there are others of the same type

Example

I bought three T-shirts. Do you want one?

Example

One passenger said she had been waiting for 13 hours.

Example

I heard of one case where a 12-year-old boy had been sent to prison.

Example

Ours was one of the top four boats in the competition.

Example

One of the buildings was badly damaged in the fire.

Example

I met one of her brothers when he was here on business.

Example

"How many books did she borrow?" "Just the one."

3

used for referring to something when that type of thing has already been mentioned or when it is obvious what type of thing you are talking about

Example

It was a problem, but not a major one.

Example

I'm only using this radio until I can buy a better one.

Example

Your experiences are ones that are shared by countless other parents.

Example

I'm going to keep those boxes. The ones I want to get rid of are in the garage.

Example

I'd never seen a game like that one.

Example

You want me to say how much freedom students should have? That's a tricky one.

Example

Did you hear the one about the American who goes into a bar in Paris?

4

used for referring to someone when they have been mentioned before or when it is obvious which person you are talking about

Example

David and I are the only ones left who are not married.

Example

They were all dealing drugs, but Bob was the one who got caught.

Example

Who is the one with the beard?

Example

The smart ones always come out on top.

4.2

used instead of "someone"

Example

I speak as one who has seen much suffering.

5

used instead of "you" when you are making a statement about people in general, which also applies to yourself

Example

Why, one may ask, would someone want to burn down their own house?

Example

One cannot be sure what lies ahead.

6

the only person or thing of a particular type

Example

She found herself in the one spot that gave her no shelter from the rain.

Example

We're going to have to play the one team we did not want to play.

6.1

used for emphasizing that something is someone's only hope, disappointment, fear, etc.

Example

The one disappointment we had was that we didn't get to shake hands with the President.

Example

My one hope is that more people with disabilities will enter into professions like social work.

7

used for emphasizing a particular fact, person, or thing

Example

There's one thing you can be sure of - you won't get any help from the government.

Example

One person who won't be invited is that awful man who lives downstairs.

7.1

used for emphasizing that someone or something is a particular type of person or thing

Example

He's one proud man, I'll tell you.

8

used for mentioning the first of two or more similar people or things, especially when you are comparing them

Example

She lay on the sofa with a glass in one hand and an empty bottle in the other.

Example

If you love both children, I don't understand why you give so much to one and not the other.

Example

He could not tell the difference between one flower and another.

9

used before someone's name when you do not know them or have not met them before

Example

I borrowed the money from one Edward Ashley.

Example

Do you have time for a quick one before you go?

Synonyms and related words
alcohol aperitif belt
Definition one in American English

Related Words

Words related to one:

a minority of one (phrase) heck of a (phrase) hell of a (phrase) hundred percent (phrase) Air Force One () (all) in one (phrase) (all) rolled into one (phrase) all-in-one (adjective) as one (phrase) at (phrase) at one time (phrase) at one with (phrase) back square one (phrase) be as one (phrase) for one (phrase) for one reason or another (phrase) for one thing (phrase) from day one (phrase) go one better (than) (phrase) half past etc. (phrase) have one eye on (phrase) have one too many (phrase) hole in one (noun) I for one... (phrase) in one piece (phrase) one fell swoop (phrase) it takes one to know one (phrase) but one (phrase) loved one (noun) mum-of-one/two/etc (noun) no one (pronoun) not for minute (phrase) not for moment (phrase) not one (phrase) number one (noun) number one (adjective) one (determiner, number, pronoun) one (pronoun) one after another (phrase) one and all (phrase) one and the same (phrase) one another (pronoun) one by one (phrase) one day (phrase) one etc. (phrase) one for the road (phrase) one of a kind (phrase) one of the boys (phrase) one of these days (phrase) one of those days (phrase) one of us (phrase) one or two (phrase) one percenter (noun) one thing after another (phrase) one way or another (phrase) one-armed bandit (noun) one-horse (adjective) one-horse race (noun) one-horse town (noun) one-liner (noun) one-man (adjective) one-man band (noun) one-night stand (noun) one-off (noun) one-off (adjective) one-on-one (adjective, adverb) one-parent family (noun) one-piece (adjective) one-piece (noun) one-shot (adjective) one-sided (adjective) one-size-fits-all (adjective) one-star (adjective) one-stop (adjective) one-time (adjective) one-to-one (adjective) one-track mind (noun) one-trick pony (noun) one-two (noun) one-up (verb) one-upmanship (noun) one-way (adjective) one-way mirror (noun) one-woman (adjective) plus one (noun) public enemy number one (phrase) public enemy number one (noun) pull a fast one (phrase) speak with one voice (phrase) take one look at (phrase) tell me another (one) (phrase) ten to one (phrase) that’s a good one (phrase) the odd out (phrase) the one and only (phrase) tie one on (phrase) time waits for no one (phrase) to one side (phrase) two-one (noun) with one accord (phrase)