/ əˈləʊn; NAmE əˈloʊn/ adjective [ not before noun ] adverb
1.
without any other people :
I don't like going out alone at night.
He lives alone.
Finally the two of us were alone together .
She was sitting all alone in the hall.
Tom is not alone in finding Rick hard to work with.
2.
without the help of other people or things :
It's hard bringing up children alone.
The assassin said he had acted alone.
3.
lonely and unhappy or without any friends :
Carol felt all alone in the world.
I've been so alone since you went away.
4.
used after a noun or pronoun to show that the person or thing mentioned is the only one :
You can't blame anyone else; you alone made the decision.
5.
used after a noun or pronoun to emphasize one particular thing :
The shoes alone cost £200.
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IDIOMS
- go it alone
- leave / let sb alone
- leave / let sth alone
- let alone
- stand alone
—more at time noun
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WHICH WORD
alone / lonely / lone
Alone , and on your own , by yourself , which are less formal and are the normal phrases used in spoken English, describe a person or thing that is separate from others. They do not mean that the person is unhappy:
I like being alone in the house.
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I'm going to London by myself next week.
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I want to finish this on my own (= without anyone's help) .
Lone / solitary / single mean that there is only one person or thing there; lone and solitary may sometimes suggest that the speaker thinks the person involved is lonely:
a lone jogger in the park
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long, solitary walks.
Lonely ( NAmE also lonesome ) means that you are alone and sad:
a lonely child
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Sam was very lonely when he first moved to New York.
It can also describe places or activities that make you feel lonely:
a lonely house.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from all + one .