solitude

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The condition of being by yourself, often in a calm way that you have chosen.

   Grammar: Normally uncountable: she enjoyed her solitude.

   Patterns

   • in solitude
   • seek solitude

   He walked in the hills in complete solitude.

   She sought solitude after the busy conference.

   Many writers need solitude to concentrate.

2. 2nouncountableliterary

   A quiet, remote place where very few people go.

   Grammar: Often plural and literary: the solitudes of the north.

   Patterns

   • the solitude of a place

   The cabin sat in the solitude of the northern woods.

   They crossed the great solitudes of the desert.

   He found peace in the solitudes of the mountain.

Word forms

Common combinations

seek solitude

After the loss, he sought solitude by the lake.

in solitude

She ate her lunch in solitude on the roof.

peaceful solitude

The cabin offered peaceful solitude.

enjoy solitude

Some people enjoy solitude more than company.

splendid solitude

He lived in splendid solitude at the top of the hill.

Synonyms and how they differ

isolation

Isolation can be forced and unpleasant, whereas solitude is usually chosen and calm.

seclusion

Seclusion suggests staying hidden away from others, often in a private place.

privacy

Privacy is freedom from being watched, but you can have privacy among other people.

loneliness

Loneliness is the sad feeling of lacking company, but solitude is just being alone.

Opposites

Word family

solitary adjective

alone or done alone

solitarily adverb

in a solitary way, rare

solo adjective

done by one person

soliloquy noun

a speech by a character alone on stage

Commonly confused: solitude or loneliness? solitude or solicitude?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “solitude”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words