1having no one else present; on one’s own: [as predic. adjective]:she was alone that evening [as adverb]:he lives alone
without others' help or participation; single-handed: [as adverb]:team members are more effective than individuals working alone [as predic. adjective]:they were not alone in dissenting from the advice
[as adjective] isolated and lonely:she was terribly alone and exposed
2 [as adverb] indicating that something is confined to the specified subject or recipient:he is answerable to Parliament aloneit was a smile for him alone
used to emphasize that only one factor out of several is being considered and that the whole is greater or more extreme:there were fifteen churches in the town centre alone
go it alone
informal act by oneself without assistance:they lack the knowledge and confidence to go it alone
leave someone/thing alone
1abandon or desert someone or something:she was frightened because he had left her alone
2 (also let someone/thing alone or leave/let well alone) stop disturbing, interfering with, or trying to improve someone or something:if you see him on his way to school, just leave him aloneshe wished he would let her alonetake my advice and leave well alone
