Meanings
- As the first in a number of examples or reasons.
I don't like this carpet – for one, it doesn't suit our lounge room at all and it's also much too expensive.
Synonyms: for one thing, first of all
- As a single given example, often the most obvious or important one and almost certainly enough to sway the argument, of several reasons for something.
I am ashamed of you, son. We do not condone theft or violence, Ryan. It is, for one, illegal, and may as such land you in jail or lead to other punishments.
- As one person among other people who may not hold the same opinion.
I know you may not agree but I, for one, think we should get rid of this unfair piece of legislation.
1 more example
Hart, for one, will not remember the night for Lambert's heroics. Morrison, not closed down quickly enough, struck his shot well but England's No1 will be aghast at the way it struck his gloves then skidded off his knees and into the net.
2013 August 14, Daniel Taylor, The Guardian
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbAs the first in a number of examples or reasons.
Origin
A shortening of for one thing or for one person
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian като за нача́ло, първо на първо
- като за нача́ло (kato za načálo)as the first in a number of examples
- първо на първо (părvo na părvo)as a single, most important example in a number of examples
Chinese 帶頭 /带头 為首 /为首
- 帶頭 /带头 為首 /为首 (dàitóu)as the first in a number of examples
Finnish ensiksi, ainakin
- ensiksias the first in a number of examples
- ainakinas one person among other people
French premièrement, déjà
- premièrementas the first in a number of examples
- déjàas the first in a number of examples
- en ce qui concerneas one person among other people
Italian prima di tutto, per prima cosa
- prima di tuttoas the first in a number of examples
- per prima cosaas the first in a number of examples
- personalmenteas one person among other people
- almenoas one person among other people
- per lo menoas one person among other people
- perlomenoas one person among other people
Portuguese em primeiro lugar, antes de mais nada
- em primeiro lugaras the first in a number of examples
- antes de mais nadaas the first in a number of examples
- pessoalmenteas one person among other people
- particularmenteas one person among other people
Romanian unul
- unulas one person among other people
Russian ли́чно
- ли́чно (líčno)as one person among other people
Spanish en primer lugar, antes de nada
- en primer lugaras the first in a number of examples
- antes de nadaas the first in a number of examples
- por su parteas one person among other people
Cite this entry
for one. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20one
“for one.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20one. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “for one,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/for%20one.
Source: for one on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.