Word
singlehandedly
Phoneticssin·gle·hand·ed·ly, stress on the third syllable
/ˌsɪŋɡəɫˈhændɪdɫi/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. without help from anyone else, done by one person alone. You use it when someone does all the work themselves.
adv. without assistance from others; accomplished through unaided individual effort. Often emphasizes personal responsibility for an outcome that would normally require several people.
Examples
“She runs the small shop singlehandedly every day.”
“He keeps the community garden alive singlehandedly, watering plants and fixing fences each weekend.”
“She built the archive singlehandedly, cataloguing thousands of letters that scholars had long considered too scattered to preserve.”
Examples
simple
“She runs the small shop singlehandedly every day.”
contextual
“He keeps the community garden alive singlehandedly, watering plants and fixing fences each weekend.”
complex
“She built the archive singlehandedly, cataloguing thousands of letters that scholars had long considered too scattered to preserve.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “singlehandedly” in context.
Verb
01. build singlehandedly
“He built his furniture business singlehandedly from nothing.”
verb + adv
02. create singlehandedly
“She created the website singlehandedly in two weeks.”
verb + adv
03. manage singlehandedly
“He manages the entire farm singlehandedly.”
verb + adv
04. run singlehandedly
“She runs the cafe singlehandedly every weekend.”
verb + adv
05. save singlehandedly
“The goalkeeper saved the match singlehandedly.”
verb + adv
06. singlehandedly defeat
“She singlehandedly defeated the proposal in the meeting.”
adv + verb
07. singlehandedly destroy
“Misinformation can singlehandedly destroy a good reputation.”
adv + verb
Adjective
08. almost singlehandedly
“She almost singlehandedly organized the charity event.”
adv + adv
09. effectively singlehandedly
“She effectively singlehandedly ran the election campaign.”
adv + adv
10. almost singlehandedly save the club
“The new manager almost singlehandedly saved the club from closure.”
11. build it singlehandedly from scratch
“He built it singlehandedly from scratch with no investors.”
12. run a business singlehandedly
“After her partner left, she ran a business singlehandedly for two years.”
Usage
Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause.
Real-World Examples
“Republican state Senator Russell Pearce, a long-time fixture in Arizona politics but until recently a virtual unknown elsewhere, never expected to singlehandedly shake up national politics, let alone get under the skin of the White House.” Related words
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/singlehandedly