individually

/ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəli/ (ame, ipa) · /-ˈvijəlē, -j(ə)wəlē, -li/ (ame, mw)

individually — 副詞

1. done one at a time, with each person or thing handled on its own rather than tog

1.副詞B1
釋義

個別地；分別

分開進行，每次處理一個

done one at a time, with each person or thing handled on its own rather than together with others

例句

Inês wrapped each present individually and wrote a different name on every tag.

Inês 把每份禮物個別包裝，並在每個標籤上寫下不同名字。

adverb after direct object: wrapped presents individually

Charlotte met with each team member individually to hear their thoughts on the project.

Charlotte 個別約見了團隊的每一位成員，聽取他們對這個專案的看法。

collocation: meet with + individually

同義詞
  • separately

    broader term; can refer to physical distance or distinct treatment

  • singly

    more technical or formal; less common in everyday speech

  • one by one

    more concrete and informal; pictures a sequence

反義詞

用法筆記

This sense focuses on the method or manner of an action — doing things one by one. The adverb typically appears after the direct object or at the end of the clause. It is the most frequent use of 'individually'.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher helped individually each student.
✅The teacher helped each student individually.
💡In this sense, 'individually' usually follows the object, not the verb.
❌The gifts were wrapped individual.
✅The gifts were wrapped individually.
💡Use the adverb form, not the adjective 'individual', when modifying a verb.

2. in a way that reflects a person's own unique style or ideas, often in a creative

2.副詞B2
釋義

獨特；有風格

以個人獨特的風格或原創方式

in a way that reflects a person's own unique style or ideas, often in a creative or imaginative manner, rather than following a standard pattern

例句

Joon designs his furniture individually, mixing Asian and Scandinavian styles in unexpected ways.

Joon 以獨特的方式設計家具，將亞洲與北歐風格巧妙融合。

adverb describing a creative method

When Dewi performs, she interprets each role individually rather than following the usual acting style.

Dewi 演出時以個人獨特的方式詮釋每個角色，不走傳統表演套路。

contrast structure: rather than + gerund

同義詞
  • uniquely

    more direct; emphasises one-of-a-kind quality

  • distinctively

    emphasises being noticeably different from others

  • originally

    emphasises inventiveness and independent thinking

反義詞

用法筆記

This sense is used mostly in discussions of creative work, personal style, or artistic expression. It is not interchangeable with sense 1 ('one at a time') — saying 'the gifts were wrapped individually' cannot mean 'wrapped in a unique style'.

常見錯誤

❌She dresses very individually to stand out.
✅She has a very individual way of dressing.
💡The adverb 'individually' can sound awkward with some verbs of personal style; 'individual' + noun is often more natural.
❌He wrapped the presents individually (meaning in a creative way).
✅Use sense 1 for 'one at a time' and this sense for 'in a unique style'. The sentence 'He wrapped the presents in an individual style' removes the ambiguity.

3. treating or considering each person or thing as a separate unit with their own p

3.副詞B1
釋義

以個人為單位

將每個人視為獨立個體對待

treating or considering each person or thing as a separate unit with their own particular needs or qualities, rather than as part of a larger group

例句

Hari believes that patients should be treated individually rather than as a set of symptoms.

Hari 認為病患應被視為獨立個體來對待，而非只是一組症狀。

contrast: individually rather than [collective]

Eshe addressed each student individually, using their name and asking about their specific progress.

Eshe 逐一關心每位學生，叫出他們的名字並詢問各自的學習進度。

同義詞
  • personally

    stronger focus on personal attention and care

  • respectively

    pairs items in order; more formal and technical

  • each in turn

    more descriptive phrase; emphasises sequential attention

反義詞
  • collectively

    as a group, not as separate individuals

  • as a whole

    considering the entire group rather than its members

  • en masse

    formal; all together as one body

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 ('separately'): sense 1 describes the manner of an action (doing things one by one), while sense 3 describes the perspective (viewing or treating each as a distinct individual with unique needs). Common in discussions of education, healthcare, customer service, and human resources.

常見錯誤

❌The company treats customers individually and as a group.
✅The company treats each customer individually rather than as a group.
💡Using 'and' instead of 'rather than' blurs the contrast this sense requires.
❌I ate the cookies individually.
✅I ate the cookies one by one (sense 1).
💡This sense ('as individuals') applies to people or living things, not to objects like cookies.