num
one
wuhn
num
1
The number 1; the first positive whole number.
"She only needed one more point to win the game."
pron
1
A single unspecified person or thing.
"One must be careful when handling chemicals."
"I only have one of these left."
adj
1
Single; sole; the only one.
"There is one solution to this problem."
How to Use One
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe number 1, or a way of referring to an unspecified person ("one must try").
Common mistake
Using "one" as a pronoun ("one should always be polite") is fairly formal in modern English; "you" is more natural in casual speech.
Common pairings
one by one
one of a kind
each and every one
Word Forms
one's adjective, oned past tense, ones plural, ones singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “one”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She only needed _____ more point to win the game.
Etymology
From Old English an, from Proto-Germanic ainaz, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "single."