I.
See main entry: ↑ single-handedly
II. ˌsingle-ˈhandedly BrE AmE ( also ˌsingle-ˈhanded ) adverb
if one person does something single-handedly, they do it without help from anyone else SYN alone :
She brought up three children single-handedly.
—single-handed adjective [only before noun] :
a single-handed voyage across the Atlantic
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THESAURUS
▪ on your own/by yourself without help from anyone else:
I can’t move the bed on my own.
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See if you can work out the answer by yourself.
| all on your own/all by yourself (=used when you feel impressed or feel sympathy for someone) :
Did you paint this picture all on your own?
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It’s not fair that she does everything all by herself.
▪ alone without any help from anyone else. Alone is more formal and less common than on your own or by yourself :
Police believe the killer acted alone.
▪ independently without asking for help or advice from anyone:
Students are taught to work independently.
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One day she will have to live independently without the support of her family.
▪ unaided without the help of anyone or anything – used especially about people who are very weak, ill etc:
He is unable to breathe unaided.
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After treatment, he was able to go up and down stairs unaided.
▪ single-handedly doing something difficult or impressive without help from anyone else:
She single-handedly reformed the entire system.
▪ solo by one person, not a group:
Lindbergh’s solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean
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She is planning to release a solo album.
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He sang and played the song solo.
▪ lone adjective [only before noun] doing something alone. Used especially in the following phrases: a lone gunman :
Police say the attack was carried out by a lone gunman.
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The government should do more to help lone parents (=who raise a child alone) .
▪ self-made adjective someone who has become very rich or successful without help from anyone else: a self-made man/millionaire/businessman etc :
Like most self-made men, he was extremely self-confident.