one-to-one
|one/to/one|
/ˌwʌn tə ˈwʌn/
direct, equal pairing
Etymology
'one-to-one' originates from Old English elements 'one' and 'to', specifically the words 'ān' and 'tō', where 'ān' meant 'single' and 'tō' meant 'to' or 'toward'.
'one-to-one' changed from earlier phrasing such as 'one to one' in Middle and Early Modern English and eventually became the hyphenated compound 'one-to-one' in modern English to express direct pairing or individual meetings.
Initially, it meant the literal numeric relation 'one to one'; over time it evolved to cover broader senses such as 'direct/equal pairing' and 'a private meeting between two people.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a private meeting between two people (often used in workplace or educational contexts).
I have a one-to-one with my manager this afternoon.
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Adjective 1
relating to an exact correspondence between individual elements (each item paired with exactly one other).
There is a one-to-one relationship between keys and values in this dictionary.
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Adjective 2
involving or designed for two people working or communicating directly with each other (personal, individual).
We offer one-to-one tutoring for students who need extra help.
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Adverb 1
directly and individually, on a one-to-one basis.
She trains children one-to-one to build confidence.
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Last updated: 2025/09/28 11:41