one

1. cardinal number

1)

each one is loosely wrapped

Syn:

unit, item; technical monad

2)

only one person came

Syn:

a single, a solitary, a sole, a lone

3)

her one concern was her daughter

Syn:

only, single, solitary, sole, exclusive

4)

they have now become one

Syn:

united, a unit, unitary, amalgamated, consolidated, integrated, combined, incorporated, allied, affiliated, linked, joined, unified, in league, in partnership; wedded, married

5)

I'll get my big break one day

Syn:

some, any

2. pronoun

one never knows what tomorrow may bring

See note below

••

one

One is used as a pronoun to mean ‘anyone’ or ‘I (or me) and people in general,’ as in one must try one's best. In modern English, it is generally used only in formal and written contexts. In informal and spoken contexts, the normal alternative is you, as in you must try your best.

Until quite recently, sentences in which one is followed by his or him were considered perfectly correct: one must try his best. These uses are now held to be less than perfectly grammatical (and possibly sexist as well).