# singly

/ˈsɪŋɡɫi/ (US) · /sˈɪŋɡli/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/singly
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

in a way that is lonely or alone. This is an old-fashioned word that people rarely use today.

For teachers: in a solitary or lonely manner.

## Examples

- He lived singly in a small cottage on the edge of the woods.
- The old man chose to live singly, avoiding the noise and crowds of the city for the quiet of the countryside.
- In the final chapter of the memoir, the author reflects on how he lived singly for many years, finding a strange comfort in the absence of others.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.