solitary
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.spending a lot of time alone, often because you enjoy it or choose it.
adj.characterised by a preference for or a state of being alone; often used to describe personality types or lifestyle choices.
Simple“He was a solitary man who enjoyed long walks in the woods by himself.”
In context“Despite her success in the city, she remained a solitary figure, rarely attending social functions and preferring the quiet of her own study.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.an activity that you do by yourself without other people.
adj.performed, passed, or endured without companions.
Simple“Reading is usually a solitary activity that requires peace and quiet.”
In context“The researcher spent three solitary months in the Arctic, documenting the migration patterns of local wildlife without any human contact.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
adj.the only one of something in a particular place.
adj.being the sole example or individual of a type in a given context; single.
Simple“A solitary light was burning in the window of the old house.”
In context“The only evidence of the crime was a solitary footprint left in the damp soil near the garden gate.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.a place that is far away from where people live and is very quiet.
adj.remote from settlements or society; unfrequented and secluded.
Simple“They found a solitary beach where they could relax away from the tourists.”
In context“The cabin sat in a solitary valley, miles from the nearest paved road or telephone line.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
adj.living or growing alone rather than in a group or colony.
adj.not associated with others of the same kind; living or growing in isolation rather than in colonies or social groups.
Simple“Tigers are solitary hunters, unlike lions which live in groups.”
In context“The botanist identified a solitary flower growing from the rock face, noting that this species rarely clusters with others.”
Synonymsnon socialindividual - 06 C2 Proficiency
n.someone who lives alone and avoids other people.
n.a person who lives in solitude, such as a hermit or recluse.
Simple“The old solitary lived in a small hut on the edge of the cliff.”
In context“Historical records suggest the man was a religious solitary who had taken a vow of silence and withdrawn from the village entirely.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
n.a punishment in prison where a person is kept alone in a cell.
n.a shortened form of 'solitary confinement'; the isolation of a prisoner in a separate cell as a punishment.
Simple“The prisoner was put in solitary for three days after the fight.”
In context“The warden threatened the inmates with a week in solitary if they refused to comply with the new security protocols.”
UsageUsually used with the verb 'in'.
Synonymsisolationthe hole
Usage solitary confinement
From Middle English solitarie, borrowed from Latin sōlitārius. Doublet of solitaire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.