Word
oneness
Phoneticsone·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwənəs/
UK/wˈɒnnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the state of being completely joined or in harmony with something else.
n. the quality of being one or undivided; a state of complete unity or harmony between different parts or entities.
Examples
“The meditation helped him feel a deep sense of oneness with nature.”
“The architect designed the building to create a sense of oneness between the interior and the surrounding landscape.”
“In many Eastern philosophies, the ultimate goal of life is to achieve a state of oneness where the individual self dissolves into the collective consciousness of the universe.”
Examples
simple
“The meditation helped him feel a deep sense of oneness with nature.”
contextual
“The architect designed the building to create a sense of oneness between the interior and the surrounding landscape.”
complex
“In many Eastern philosophies, the ultimate goal of life is to achieve a state of oneness where the individual self dissolves into the collective consciousness of the universe.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'with' to show what someone is connected to.
Teaching tip
This is a high-level word mostly found in spiritual, philosophical, or very formal literary writing; it is rarely used in everyday conversation.
Etymology
From Middle English oonnesse, onnesse, from Old English ānnes (“oneness, unity, agreement, covenant, solitude”), from Proto-West Germanic *ainnassī (“oneness”), equivalent to one + -ness. Cognate with Old High German einnissī, einnissa (“unity, oneness”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
NUMERAL
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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- Academic, Formal
QR code
englishreference.com/q/oneness