Definition

Adverb: * Without assistance; by one's own efforts alone: This adverb describes an action performed by one person, without help from anyone else. It emphasizes individual effort and self-reliance.

Usage

• The adverb single-handedly is used to modify a verb, emphasizing that the action was accomplished by one person acting alone.
• It is typically placed after the verb or at the end of a clause.
• It is often used to highlight impressive, difficult, or surprising achievements.

Examples

• She single-handedly managed the entire project from start to finish.
• The goalkeeper single-handedly saved his team from defeat with three incredible stops.
• He claims to have written the 500-page report single-handedly.
• The small company fought the legal battle against the giant corporation single-handedly.

Advanced Usage

• For emphasis at the start of a sentence: While less common, it can be placed at the beginning for dramatic effect.
  • Single-handedly, she transformed the community garden into a neighborhood treasure.

Variants and Related Words

• Single-handed (adjective): Done by or designed for one person.
  • It was a single-handed effort.
  • He sailed across the ocean in a single-handed yacht.

Synonyms

• Alone
• Solo
• By oneself
• On one's own
• Unaided
• Unassisted

Antonyms

• Collaboratively
• Jointly
• Together
• With help
• Assisted

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To take on [something] single-handedly: To decide to deal with a large or difficult task alone.
  • She took on the challenge of organizing the festival single-handedly.
• To be a one-man band / one-woman show: An idiomatic expression with a similar meaning, suggesting one person is doing all the work of many.
  • In the early days, the founder was a one-woman show, handling sales, marketing, and support single-handedly.

Adverb

1. without assistance
   • I built this house single-handedly