alone and lone share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. alone means “isolated from others”. lone means “lacking companions or companionship”. alone is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/əˈloʊn/
1.adj.isolated from others
“could be alone in a crowded room”
2.adj.lacking companions or companionship
“he was alone when we met him”
3.adj.exclusive of anyone or anything else
“she alone believed him”
/ˈloʊn/
1.adj.lacking companions or companionship
“he was alone when we met him”
2.adj.characterized by or preferring solitude
“a lone wolf”
3.adj.being the only one; single and isolated from others
“the lone doctor in the entire county”
| alone | lone | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /əˈloʊn/ | /ˈloʊn/ |
| Said | uh-LOHN | lohn |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 5 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | adjective, adverb | adjective |
| Senses | 6 | 3 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | none recorded | alone, lonely, solitary |
Full entry for alone · Full entry for lone · More comparisons