'One by one' definitions:
Definition of 'one by one'
From: WordNet
adverb
In single file; "the prisoners came out one by one" [syn: one by one, one after another, one at a time]
adverb
One piece at a time; "she sold the plates by the piece" [syn: by the piece, one by one]
adverb
Apart from others; "taken individually, the rooms were, in fact, square"; "the fine points are treated singly" [syn: individually, separately, singly, severally, one by one, on an individual basis]
Definition of 'One by one'
From: GCIDE
- By \By\ (b[imac]), prep. [OE. bi, AS. b[imac], big, near to, by, of, from, after, according to; akin to OS. & OFries. bi, be, D. bij, OHG. b[imac], G. bei, Goth. bi, and perh. Gr. 'amfi`. E. prefix be- is orig. the same word. [root]203. See pref. Be-.]
- 1. In the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to; along with; as, come and sit by me. [1913 Webster]
- By foundation or by shady rivulet He sought them both. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. On; along; in traversing. Compare 5. [1913 Webster]
- Long labors both by sea and land he bore. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- By land, by water, they renew the charge. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Near to, while passing; hence, from one to the other side of; past; as, to go by a church. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Used in specifying adjacent dimensions; as, a cabin twenty feet by forty. [1913 Webster]
- 5. Against. [Obs.] --Tyndale [1. Cor. iv. 4]. [1913 Webster]
- 6. With, as means, way, process, etc.; through means of; with aid of; through; through the act or agency of; as, a city is destroyed by fire; profit is made by commerce; to take by force. [1913 Webster]
- Note: To the meaning of by, as denoting means or agency, belong, more or less closely, most of the following uses of the word: (a) It points out the author and producer; as, "Waverley", a novel by Sir W.Scott; a statue by Canova; a sonata by Beethoven. (b) In an oath or adjuration, it indicates the being or thing appealed to as sanction; as, I affirm to you by all that is sacred; he swears by his faith as a Christian; no, by Heaven. (c) According to; by direction, authority, or example of; after; -- in such phrases as, it appears by his account; ten o'clock by my watch; to live by rule; a model to build by. (d) At the rate of; according to the ratio or proportion of; in the measure or quantity of; as, to sell cloth by the yard, milk by the quart, eggs by the dozen, meat by the pound; to board by the year. (e) In comparison, it denotes the measure of excess or deficiency; when anything is increased or diminished, it indicates the measure of increase or diminution; as, larger by a half; older by five years; to lessen by a third. (f) It expresses continuance or duration; during the course of; within the period of; as, by day, by night. (g) As soon as; not later than; near or at; -- used in expressions of time; as, by this time the sun had risen; he will be here by two o'clock. [1913 Webster]
- Note: In boxing the compass, by indicates a pint nearer to, or towards, the next cardinal point; as, north by east, i.e., a point towards the east from the north; northeast by east, i.e., on point nearer the east than northeast is. [1913 Webster]
- Note: With is used instead of by before the instrument with which anything is done; as, to beat one with a stick; the board was fastened by the carpenter with nails. But there are many words which may be regarded as means or processes, or, figuratively, as instruments; and whether with or by shall be used with them is a matter of arbitrary, and often, of unsettled usage; as, to a reduce a town by famine; to consume stubble with fire; he gained his purpose by flattery; he entertained them with a story; he distressed us with or by a recital of his sufferings. see With. [1913 Webster]
- By all means, most assuredly; without fail; certainly.
- By and by. (a) Close together (of place). [Obs.] "Two yonge knightes liggyng [lying] by and by." --Chaucer. (b) Immediately; at once. [Obs.] "When . . . persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." --Matt. xiii. 21. (c) Presently; pretty soon; before long.
- Note: In this phrase, by seems to be used in the sense of nearness in time, and to be repeated for the sake of emphasis, and thus to be equivalent to "soon, and soon," that is instantly; hence, -- less emphatically, -- pretty soon, presently.
- By one's self, with only one's self near; alone; solitary.
- By the bye. See under Bye.
- By the head (Naut.), having the bows lower than the stern; -- said of a vessel when her head is lower in the water than her stern. If her stern is lower, she is by the stern.
- By the lee, the situation of a vessel, going free, when she has fallen off so much as to bring the wind round her stern, and to take her sails aback on the other side.
- By the run, to let go by the run, to let go altogether, instead of slacking off.
- By the way, by the bye; -- used to introduce an incidental or secondary remark or subject.
- Day by day, One by one, Piece by piece, etc., each day, each one, each piece, etc., by itself singly or separately; each severally.
- To come by, to get possession of; to obtain.
- To do by, to treat, to behave toward.
- To set by, to value, to esteem.
- To stand by, to aid, to support. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The common phrase good-by is equivalent to farewell, and would be better written good-bye, as it is a corruption of God be with you (b'w'ye). [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'one by one'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adrift,
- alone,
- apart,
- apart from,
- apiece,
- aside from,
- asunder,
- away from,
- by itself,
- each,
- each to each,
- in the abstract,
- in the singular,
- in twain,
- in two,
- independently,
- individually,
- once,
- particularly,
- per annum,
- per capita,
- per se,
- piecemeal,
- respectively,
- separately,
- severally,
- single-handedly,
- singly,
- singularly
Words containing 'One by one'
- To have one's will,
- as one,
- at one,
- for each one,
- for one,
- from each one,
- one,
- one and all,
- one and only,
- oneness,
- to each one,
- one hundred one,
- one one's coattails,
- one-and-one,
- one-on-one,
- one-to-one,
- After one's own heart,
- At one's peril,
- By one's favor,
- By one's self,
- Ever is one,
- Fair one,
- Holy One,
- In one's books,
- In one's danger,
- In one's employ,
- In one's half,
- In one's hand,
- In one's hands,
- Little ones,
- Many one,
- Off one's guard,
- Off one's hands,
- On one's guard,
- On one's half,
- On one's hands,
- On one's honor,
- On one's legs,
- On one's own hook,
- On one's peril,
- One day,
- One of these days,
- One or two,
- Out of one's own head,
- The evil one,
- To be in one's cups,
- To be on one's back,
- To be one flesh,
- To be one's own man,
- To be one's own master,
- To be one's own mistress,
- To be out of one's head,
- To bring one on one's way,
- To carry all before one,
- To do one honor,
- To do one shame,
- To do one's best,
- To do one's business,
- To do one's diligence,
- To do one's endeavor,
- To draw one on to,
- To draw one out,
- To draw one to,
- To have at one's retinue,
- To have one's ear,
- To have one's fling,
- To have one's handful,
- To hold one's own,
- To laugh one out of,
- To lay about one,
- To leave one to himself,
- To lie in one,
- To look about one,
- To one's beard,
- To put one one's mettle,
- To see one through,
- To serve one out,
- Under one's breath,
- Under one's signature,
- Under one's thumb,
- With all one's heart,
- With one voice,
- With one's favor,
- Young one,
- a-one,
- at one time,
- beneath one,
- beyond one,
- do one's best,
- fast one,
- hold one's own,
- hundred and one,
- in one case,
- in one ear,
- in one's own right,
- loved one,
- number one,
- on one hand,
- on the one hand,
- one after another,
- one at a time,
- one c,
- one for the book,
- one for the books,
- one horse,
- one hundred,
- one iron,
- one of the boys,
- one percent,
- one piece,
- one shot,
- one sided,
- one thousand,
- one time,
- one upmanship,
- one-off,
- put one over,
- rolled into one,
- square one,
- to be at one's beads,
- to one ear,
- To put one's foot in one's mouth,
- To put one's legs under some one's mahogany,
- Behind one's back,
- Communion in one kind,
- Denial of one's self,
- On one's last legs,
- Self-one,
- The cut of one's jib,
- To be beside one's self,
- To be gathered to one's fathers,
- To be gathered to one's people,
- To be master of one's self,
- To bear one hard,
- To beg one for a fool,
- To blow one's own trumpet,
- To boast one's self,
- To brace one's self,
- To break one's fast,
- To breathe one's last,
- To bring one round,
- To bring one to his bearings,
- To bundle one's self up,
- To burn one's fingers,
- To calculate one's nativity,
- To call any one names,
- To carry one's point,
- To cast in one's lot with,
- To cast in one's teeth,
- To cast one's nativity,
- To cast one's self on,
- To catch one flatfooted,
- To catch one's eye,
- To change one's tune,
- To claw one on the back,
- To claw one on the gall,
- To collect one's self,
- To come one's way,
- To come to one's self,
- To commune with one's heart,
- To commune with one's self,
- To congratulate one's self,
- To cross one's path,
- To cudgel one's brains,
- To cut one's eyeteeth,
- To cut one's stick,
- To declare one's self,
- To deny one's self,
- To dust one's jacket,
- To dyst one's jacket,
- To eat one's words,
- To elbow one's way,
- To employ one's self,
- To endeavor one's self,
- To enjoy one's self,
- To enlarge one's self,
- To exert one's self,
- To fall into one's hands,
- To feather one's nest,
- To feel one's pulse,
- To find one's self,
- To forget one's self,
- To forswear one's self,
- To get one's hand in,
- To give one rope,
- To give one the bag,
- To give one the dor,
- To give one the head,
- To give one the slip,
- To give one to understand,
- To give one's self up,
- To go one's way,
- To harp on one string,
- To haul in one's horns,
- To have a brick in one's hat,
- To have at one's fingers' ends,
- To have cut one's eyeteeth,
- To have one's cake dough,
- To have one's hands full,
- To have the cards in one's own hands,
- To hide one's self,
- To hoe one's row,
- To hold one's day,
- To hold one's peace,
- To hug one's self,
- To jump one's bail,
- To keep one's distance,
- To keep one's hand in,
- To keep one's own counsel,
- To know one's own limitations,
- To laugh up one's sleeve,
- To lay one's self out,
- To lead one a dance,
- To leave one in the lurch,
- To leave one out in the cold,
- To leave to one's self,
- To lend one's ears,
- To lie at one's door,
- To lie in one's throat,
- To lie on one's back,
- To lie on one's hands,
- To lift up one's head,
- To live on one's capital,
- To lose one's bearings,
- To lose one's head,
- To lose one's heart,
- To lose one's life,
- To lose one's mind,
- To lose one's self,
- To magnify one's self,
- To magnify one's self against,
- To make one a compliment,
- To make one's compliments to,
- To make one's election,
- To make one's hand,
- To make one's law,
- To make one's manners,
- To make one's mark,
- To make one's peace with,
- To make one's way,
- To make up one's mind,
- To measure swords with one,
- To meet one's maker,
- To mind one's chances,
- To misconduct one's self,
- To owe one a spite,
- To pain one's self,
- To pass something on some one,
- To pay one in his own coin,
- To pay one's court,
- To pay one's duty,
- To pay one's footing,
- To play one's cards,
- To promise one's self,
- To propose to one's self,
- To pull in one's horns,
- To put down one's staff,
- To put on one's trumps,
- To put one out of conceit with,
- To put one's back up,
- To put one's comether on,
- To put one's foot down,
- To put to one's trumps,
- To put up one's staff,
- To rack one's brains,
- To rack one's brains out,
- To rack one's wits,
- To read one's self in,
- To refer one's self,
- To relate one's self,
- To repeat one's self,
- To report one's self,
- To repossess one's self of,
- To return to one's muttons,
- To roll one's r's,
- To roll one's self,
- To save one's bacon,
- To serve one right,
- To serve one the same sauce,
- To serve one's self of,
- To set down one's staff,
- To set one's cap,
- To set one's cap for,
- To set one's rest,
- To set one's self against,
- To set one's teeth,
- To set up one's rest,
- To set up one's staff,
- To shape one's self,
- To show one's head,
- To snake one's toilet,
- To spare one's self,
- To sport one's oak,
- To square one's shoulders,
- To stand in one's own light,
- To stand on one's own legs,
- To stand one in hand,
- To stand one's ground,
- To stick in one's gizzard,
- To straighten one's face,
- To strike one luck,
- To swear the peace against one,
- To take into one's confidence,
- To take one's measure,
- To take one's own course,
- To throw one's self down,
- To throw one's self on,
- To thrust one's nose into,
- To thrust one's self in,
- To thrust one's self into,
- To truss one's self,
- To turn one's coat,
- To turn one's goods,
- To turn one's hand to,
- To turn one's money,
- To turn the back on one,
- To use one's self,
- To wage one's law,
- To walk one's chalks,
- To wear one's heart upon one's sleeve,
- To wet one's whistle,
- To wipe one's nose of,
- To worm one's self into,
- Two-to-one,
- Wilburton Number One,
- With all one's might and main,
- With one's whole heart,
- blow one's stack,
- break one's back,
- call one's bluff,
- cash in one's chips,
- catch one's breath,
- cool one's heels,
- drag one's feet,
- drag one's heels,
- drop one's serve,
- eighty-one,
- feast one's eyes,
- feather one's nest,
- fifty-one,
- flip one's lid,
- flip one's wig,
- forty-one,
- get one's Irish up,
- get one's lumps,
- get under one's skin,
- give one's best,
- go one better,
- grease one's palms,
- in one's birthday suit,
- keep one's distance,
- keep one's eyes off,
- keep one's hands off,
- kick one's heels,
- line one's pockets,
- lose one's temper,
- make up one's mind,
- ninety-one,
- number one wood,
- one dollar bill,
- one hundred eighty,
- one hundred fifteen,
- one hundred fifty,
- one hundred five,
- one hundred forty,
- one hundred ninety,
- one hundred seventy,
- one hundred sixty,
- one hundred ten,
- one hundred thirty,
- one hundred twenty,
- one million million,
- one thousand million,
- one thousand thousand,
- one-armed,
- one-billionth,
- one-celled,
- one-dimensional,
- one-dimensionality,
- one-eared,
- one-eighth,
- one-eyed,
- one-fifth,
- one-fourth,
- one-half,
- one-handed,
- one-hitter,
- one-horse,
- one-humped,
- one-hundredth,
- one-liner,
- one-man,
- one-member,
- one-millionth,
- one-ninth,
- one-party,
- one-person,
- one-piece,
- one-quadrillionth,
- one-quarter,
- one-quintillionth,
- one-seed,
- one-seeded,
- one-seventh,
- one-sided,
- one-sidedly,
- one-sixteenth,
- one-sixth,
- one-sixtieth,
- one-spot,
- one-step,
- one-tenth,
- one-third,
- one-thousandth,
- one-time,
- one-trillionth,
- one-twelfth,
- one-upmanship,
- one-way,
- one-winged,
- one-woman,
- one-year,
- pull a fast one,
- pull a fast one on,
- pull in one's horns,
- pull one's weight,
- put one across,
- put one on his feet,
- reach one's nostrils,
- set one on his feet,
- seventy-one,
- shoot one's mouth off,
- shut one's mouth,
- sixty-one,
- slip one's mind,
- sow one's oats,
- take one's lumps,
- talk through one's hat,
- thirty-one,
- thousand and one nights,
- tighten one's belt,
- to blow one's stacks,
- to dig in one's heels,
- to get one's back up,
- to perk up one's ears,
- to rest on one's laurels,
- too big for one's breeches,
- turn one's stomach,
- twenty-one,
- upon one's guard,
- wash one's hands,
- waste one's time,
- One-valued function,
- To be upon one's good behavior,
- To bring one's nose to the grindstone,
- To bring up any one with a round turn,
- To cast one's colt's tooth,
- To cast one's self upon,
- To cover one's short contracts,
- To cut one's wisdom teeth,
- To ding anything in one's ears,
- To fasten one's eyes upon,
- To gather one's self together,
- To give a piece of one's mind to,
- To give one the cold shoulder,
- To give one the lie in his throat,
- To give one's self away,
- To have two strings to one's bow,
- To hold one's nose to the grindstone,
- To keep one's head above water,
- To keep one's nose to the grindstone,
- To lay hands on one's self,
- To lay one's self open to,
- To make a thing one's business,
- To make one's self at home,
- To make one's self scarce,
- To make one's self strange,
- To make one's self understood,
- To pass something upon some one,
- To pin one's faith upon,
- To play one's cards well,
- To play snow one's cards,
- To put a spoke in one's wheel,
- To put one's nose out of joint,
- To put one's nose to the grindstone,
- To put someone through one's paces,
- To reckon without one's host,
- To sell one's life dearly,
- To sow one's wild oats,
- To stand upon one's dignity,
- To take the wind out of one's sails,
- To take upon one's self,
- To talk out of both sides of one's mouth,
- To throw dust in one's eyes,
- To throw one's self upon,
- To tread upon one's heels