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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Solitary: Meaning, Usage, and Examples (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：feeling alone (solitary)

solitary 🔊

/ˈsɒlɪtəri/

adj.

Feeling alone, often in a way that is sad or by choice.

Solitary person reading alone on a park bench at sunset

feeling alone 🔊

➕

/ˈfiːlɪŋ əˈləʊn/

adj.

Feeling alone, either sadly or by choice; describing a state of being without others.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'solus' (alone) + '-arius' (pertaining to).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'solo' + 'itary' – imagine a solo singer on an empty stage, completely alone.

📖 Example

After moving to the new city, she felt a bit solitary until she joined a local book club. 🔊 After moving to the new city, she felt a bit solitary until she joined a local book club.

🔗 Collocations

solitary life – a life lived alone, often by choice

solitary confinement – punishment of being isolated in a cell

solitary feeling – a feeling of loneliness

🔄 Synonyms

lonely (adj.) – sad because of being alone

isolated (adj.) – separated from others physically or socially

alone (adj.) – having no one else present

🚫 Antonyms

social (adj.) – enjoying being with others

gregarious (adj.) – fond of company; sociable

accompanied (adj.) – having someone else with you

🌱 Derivatives

solitude (n.) – state of being alone

solitarily (adv.) – in a solitary manner

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'solus' meaning alone. It evolved through Old French 'solitere' into modern English, often used to describe hermitic or isolated states in literature.

Meaning 2：existing alone (solitary)

solitary 🔊

/ˈsɒlɪtəri/

adj.

Only one, existing alone.

Solitary red apple sitting alone on a white countertop

existing alone 🔊

➕

/ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ əˈləʊn/

adj.

Being the only one of its kind in a particular place; single and separate.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In the vast desert, they found a solitary tree providing a tiny patch of shade. 🔊 In the vast desert, they found a solitary tree providing a tiny patch of shade.

🔗 Collocations

a solitary example – the only example of something

a solitary instance – a single occurrence

a solitary figure – a person seen alone in a place

🔄 Synonyms

lone (adj.) – being the only one; solitary

single (adj.) – one only; not accompanied

isolated (adj.) – far away from others; alone

🚫 Antonyms

multiple (adj.) – many; several

numerous (adj.) – great in number

accompanied (adj.) – having others present

🌱 Derivatives

solitude (n.) – state of being alone

solitarily (adv.) – in a solitary manner

Meaning 3：the only one (solitary)

solitary 🔊

/ˈsɒlɪtəri/

adj.

The only one; the single example.

Solitary lit window in a dark house at night

the only one 🔊

➕

/ði ˈəʊnli wʌn/

adj.

Being the single example or instance; exclusive.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

This job offer was her solitary chance to move to the city and start a new career. 🔊 This job offer was her solitary chance to move to the city and start a new career.

🔗 Collocations

solitary chance – the only opportunity

solitary opportunity – a unique chance

solitary hope – the only reason to be hopeful

🔄 Synonyms

sole (adj.) – one and only; single

only (adj.) – without any others being involved

unique (adj.) – being the only one of its kind

🚫 Antonyms

multiple (adj.) – many; several

many (adj.) – a large number of

several (adj.) – more than two but not many

🌱 Derivatives

solitude (n.) – state of being alone

solitarily (adv.) – in a solitary manner