solitary
characterized by or preferring solitude
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,525 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 6,708 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- characterized by or preferring solitude also: lone, lonely a lone wolfa lonely existence
- of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies also: nongregarious, nonsocial solitary bees
- lacking companions or companionship also: alone, lone, lonely he was alone when we met himshe is alone much of the time
- being the only one; single and isolated from others also: lone, lonesome, only, sole the lone doctor in the entire countya lonesome pine
- devoid of creatures also: lonely, unfrequented a lonely crossroadsa solitary retreat
noun
- confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners also: solitary confinement he was held in solitary
- one who lives in solitude also: hermit, recluse, solitudinarian, troglodyte
solitary in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The street was solitary and silent as of old.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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All her innocent, solitary, dreamy days quite over, her happiness vanished; her regrets become a crime.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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She was his only child--the humble but solitary flower that blossomed for him upon the desert of life.
The Emigrants Of Ahadarra The Works · William Carleton · Chapter 1
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A solitary monk covers his fingers with his mantle, that he may aid his mother in crossing a creek.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 2
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Which epistle jarred upon Hector's mother when she read it over coffee at her solitary dinner on the following night.
Beyond The Rocks: A Love Story · Elinor Glyn · Chapter 2