one */*/*/

UK [wʌn] / US determiner, number, pronoun

Summary:

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) number the number 1

I've only got one hour free.

They have one daughter and five sons.

Over one hundred people were killed in the disaster.

It was a one-storey building with big windows.

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

I bought three T-shirts – do you want one?

One passenger said she had been waiting for 13 hours.

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

one of:

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

One of the buildings was badly damaged in the fire.

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

just the one:

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

3)

a) used for referring to things 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

It was a problem, but not a major one.

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

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

the one/ones:

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

this one/that one/these ones/those ones:

I'd never seen a game like that one.

b) used for referring to a particular joke, comment, idea, or question

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

the one about (= the joke about someone or something):

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

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

the one/ones:

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

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

Who is the one with the beard?

a) people of a particular type

the young/clever/lucky etc ones:

The clever ones always come out on top.

b) formal used instead of "someone"

I speak as one who has seen much suffering.

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

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

One cannot always be right, can one?

One must bring one's own talents to every single task.

One cannot be sure what lies ahead.

6)

a) the only the only person or thing of a particular type

the one:

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

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

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

the one:

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

someone's one hope/fear/concern etc:

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

7)

a) used for emphasis used for emphasizing a particular fact, person, or thing

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

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

b) mainly American informal used for emphasizing that someone or something is a particular type of person or thing

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

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

one ... the other:

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

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

one ... another:

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

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

I borrowed the money from one Edward Ashley.

10) informal a drink a glass of alcoholic drink

Have you got time for a quick one before you go?

See:

road

•

(all) in one — used for saying that someone or something can do many different things at the same time

I'm day-nurse and night-nurse in one.

be/get one up on someone — informal to have or get an advantage over someone, usually by being better than they are at something

He and his brothers are always trying to get one up on each other.

be one for (doing) something — to like or enjoy something very much

Helen is always one for a good party.

I've never been a great one for playing games.

a hundred/thousand/million etc and one — used for emphasizing that there are a very large number of people or things

There are still a thousand and one things I need to do before we leave.

little/young ones — old-fashioned children

You're welcome to bring your little ones.

one day/night/year etc — on a particular day/night/year etc in the past; on any day/night/year etc in the future

When Sam failed to appear one evening, my worry increased.

She knew that one day she'd get married.

one of the biggest/best/most beautiful etc — used when you are saying that someone or something is bigger/better/more beautiful etc than most other people or things of the same type

He took us all out to dinner at one of the best Japanese restaurants in town.

He was one of the most talented actors I've ever worked with.

you are/he is/she is a one — British

informal old-fashioned used for showing that you think someone is funny because of the things they do or say

- as one

- at one with

- be as one

- for one

- for one thing

- got it in one

- have one too many

- in ones and twos

- it takes one to know one

- not be one to do something

- one after another

- one and all

- the one and only

- one and the same

- one by one

- one of us

- one or other

- one or two