Meaning of one In English

• 0 the number 1:

  • He had two slices and I only had one.

  • She'll be one year old tomorrow.

• 1 a member of a group of people or things:

  • One of their daughters has just had a baby.

  • EMI is one of the world's largest record companies.

  • Finding a cure for cancer is one of the biggest challenges facing medical researchers.

  • Our organization is just one of many charities that are providing famine relief in the region.

• 2 used to refer to a time in the future that is not yet decided:

  • Why don't we meet for lunch one day next week?

  • I'd like to go skiing one Christmas.

• 3 used to refer to a particular occasion while avoiding stating the exact moment:

  • One night we stayed up talking till dawn.

  • He was attacked as he was walking home from work late one afternoon.

  • One moment he says he loves me, the next moment he's asking for a divorce.

  • She never seems to know what she's doing from one minute to the next.

• 4 a single thing; not two or more:

  • Eat them one at a time (= separately).

  • I think we should paint the bedroom all one (= in a single) colour.

  • UK Do you think five of us will manage to squeeze into the one car?

  • With this model you get a radio, CD player, and MP3 dock all in one.

• 5 used when saying there is no other person or thing:

  • He's the one person you can rely on in an emergency.

  • This may be your one and only (= only ever) opportunity to meet her.

  • My final guest on tonight's show needs no introduction. Please welcome the one and only Michael Jordan!

• 6 used before the name of someone who is not known:

  • Her solicitor is one John Wintersgill.

• 7 used to emphasize an adjective:

  • His mother is one (= a very) generous woman.

  • That's one (= a very) big ice cream cone you have there.

  • It was one hell of a (= a very great) shock to find out I'd lost my job.

• 8 used to refer to a particular thing or person within a group or range of things or people that are possible or available:

  • I have a few books on Chinese food. You can borrow one if you want.

  • Which one would you like?

  • Please make a copy for everybody in the office and a few extra ones for the visitors.

  • "Which cake would you like?" "The one in the front."

  • French croissants are so much better than the ones we get here.

  • There were lots of people watching, and not one of them offered to help.

  • I've received no replies to my job applications - not a single one (= none).

  • Chris is the one (= the person) with curly brown hair.

  • I'm not one to criticize other people, as you know.

  • I've never been one for staying out late.

  • He's a great one for the ladies.

• 9 used to talk about one person or thing compared with other similar or related people or things:

  • They look so similar it's often difficult to distinguish one from the other.

  • You may have one or the other, but not both.

  • Crime and freedom are inseparable. You can't have one without the other.

• 10 any person, but not a particular person:

  • One has an obligation to one's friends.

  • One ought to make the effort to vote.

• 11 the person speaking or writing:

  • Of course, one (= I) would be delighted to dine with the Queen.

• 12 1:

  • I have one brother and two sisters.

  • Paula rented a one-room studio apartment.

• 13 not two or more:

  • There are too many of us to fit in just one car.

• 14 used to refer to a particular thing or person within a group or range of things or people:

  • There are lots of flavors – which one would you like?

  • He advised workers around him, especially the younger ones, to be patient.

  • Kayla is the one with dark brown hair.

  • Make sure the ones that we've got there do what you want them to do.

  • She is one beautiful woman (= she is very beautiful).

  • Why don’t we meet for lunch one day next week?

  • It’s one of the most popular songs.

• 15 used when saying there is no other person or thing:

  • He’s the one person you can rely on in an emergency.

• 16 any person, but not a particular person:

  • One ought to make the effort to vote.