Word
solitude
Phoneticssoli·tude
US/ˈsɑɫəˌtud/
UK/sˈɒlɪtjˌuːd/
Definitions
01being alone by choice
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the state of being alone, especially when you choose it because you want to be quiet or peaceful.
n. the state of being alone or solitary; often implies a voluntary and desirable condition of peaceful isolation.
“After a busy week at work, she enjoyed the solitude of her garden.”
“The writer retreated to a remote cabin in the mountains, seeking the solitude necessary to finish her final chapters without interruption.”
Pitfall
He felt very solitude in the big house.
He felt very lonely in the big house.
Solitude is a noun, not an adjective. Use 'lonely' or 'solitary' to describe a feeling or a person.
Antonyms
02a lonely place
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary
n. a place that is far away from other people and very quiet.
n. a lonely, unfrequented, or deserted place. Often used in literary contexts to describe vast, empty landscapes.
“The explorer wandered through the vast solitudes of the Arctic.”
“The poem describes the traveler's journey through the deep solitudes of the desert, where no bird sang and no water flowed.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“At its best, a childhood home is a safe place in which solitude can be experienced without anxiety.” “As the astronauts pass behind the Moon they will experience a moment of silence and solitude as communication with the Earth is blocked.” “I became quieter, and even a bit shy, when I lived in New York: being in a loud, energetic city made me crave solitude, and nervous about speaking to strangers.” “The promise of silence and solitude was partly what drew me to the river in the first place.” Etymology
From Middle English solitude, from Old French solitude. By surface analysis, sole + -itude.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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