Meaning of single-handedly in English

single-handedly

adverb

/ˌsɪŋ.ɡəlˈhæn.dɪd.li/ uk

/ˌsɪŋ.ɡəlˈhæn.dɪd.li/

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without any help from anyone else:

She single-handedly supported the family after her husband’s death.

He has single-handedly revived flagging public interest in auto racing.

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single-handed

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

without help

(all) by yourselfI don't think I can fix the car alone - can you help?
(all) on your ownUKI learnt the song all on my own.
single-handedlyShe single-handedly saved the company from bankruptcy.
unassistedAfter years of using a cane, intensive physical therapy enabled her to walk unassisted.
unaidedAfter six months of treatment I can finally walk unaided.
independentlyThe charity helps people live independently.

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More examplesFewer examples

She researches, writes, and designs everything almost single-handedly.
He was almost single-handedly responsible for bringing coffee culture to the UK .
The new product single-handedly saved the firm from oblivion.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Unaided and working alone

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(Definition of single-handedly from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of single-handedly

single-handedly

I was single-handedly letting down my entire family.

From CNN

Similarly, a genetic defect causing a series of problems does not mean that the healthy version of that gene is single-handedly responsible for normal function.

From NPR

But enough of it was the unfortunate result of one particularly inconsiderate patron who single-handedly spiked the sound level to a 98-decibel din.

From Philly.com

Of course, he single-handedly takes them all out.

From Los Angeles Times

He was the only pilot in the sky for many hours, and single-handedly rescued about 70 people.

From TIME

Despite talk of concussion concerns, don't be fooled into thinking it's single-handedly driving down high school football participation.

From Minneapolis Star Tribune

Good therapists can help you trigger positive change in your marriage single-handedly.

From Huffington Post

He was the violinist who almost single-handedly defined the art of violin performance for an entire era.

From Minneapolis Star Tribune

It's basically the argument he's making that he single-handedly is going to turn the country around.

From CNN

She is a renowned scientist, credited with single-handedly improving the lives of cattle.

From ABC News

Most important, you have pledged to move single-handedly to protect the country and change its immigration priorities.

From Washington Post

We are constantly on the lookout for the heroic leader who can single-handedly transform the warp and weave of their society.

From Huffington Post

I hesitate to make him in some way responsible for what happened because he's by no means single-handedly responsible.

From NPR

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

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