isolate

verb

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iso·late | \ ˈī-sə-ˌlāt

also ˈi- \

isolated; isolating

Definition of isolate

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to set apart from others also : quarantine

2 : to select from among others especially : to separate from another substance so as to obtain pure or in a free state

3 : insulate

isolate

adjective

iso·late | \ ˈī-sə-lət

, -ˌlāt

also ˈi- \

Definition of isolate (Entry 2 of 3)

: being alone : solitary, isolated

isolate

noun

iso·late | \ ˈī-sə-lət

, -ˌlāt

also ˈi- \

Definition of isolate (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : an individual, population, strain, or culture obtained by or resulting from selection or separation

2 : an individual socially withdrawn or removed from society

Other Words from isolate Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing isolate Learn More About isolate

Examples of isolate in a Sentence

Verb These policies will only serve to isolate the country politically and economically. Certain patients must be isolated in a separate ward. When he wants to work, he isolates himself in his office and won't talk to anyone. Scientists have isolated the gene that causes the disease. Noun interpersonal relationships are very stressful for him, so he lives as a virtual isolate on the Upper West Side of Manhattan

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In a tweet Thursday, Podolyak called on nations to further isolate Russia through energy bans. — Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2022 On both sides of the Atlantic, leaders promise that more green energy—solar, wind and electric vehicles—will cure Western overreliance on volatile oil and natural gas and further isolate Russia. — Mark P. Mills, WSJ, 17 Apr. 2022 Biden is expected to sign an executive order that will prohibit new investment in Russia by U.S. citizens – regardless where are living – in a bid to further isolate Russia from the global economy. — Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2022 Harris, 57, will isolate and work from her residence. — Essence, 27 Apr. 2022 But when Covid-19 hit, Majimbo was forced to isolate and engage in remote learning. — Alexandra Sternlicht, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 Even before the coronavirus pandemic, this has forced her to isolate from people and has, at various points, left her bedridden and on oxygen. — Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2022 White-collar employees, shoppers and diners have been forced to isolate inside offices, stores and restaurants if they were deemed to be close contacts. — New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 Forced to isolate, both bowed out of attending Saturday’s Producers Guild Awards. — Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective That guidance has since changed, with the CDC now recommending that people who test positive for COVID-19 isolate for five days. — Korin Miller, Health.com, 3 Jan. 2022 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus and have symptoms isolate from others for at least 10 days after signs of illness first appear. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2021 In provinces like Manitoba — which has been in a state of emergency since March 20 — domestic and international travellers are required to self-isolate (or quarantine) for 14 days after their arrival into the province. — Patricia Karounos, refinery29.com, 29 July 2021 So although there were no immediate cases confirmed as a result of the traveler's visit from Sydney to New Zealand's capital Wellington, authorities were asking people at more than a dozen locations to self-isolate for two weeks and get tested. — Nick Perry, Star Tribune, 22 June 2021 All other travelers are encouraged to self-isolate for a period of 14 days. — NBC News, 29 Mar. 2021 Canada already requires those entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days and to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before arrival. — Rob Gillies, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Jan. 2021 Canada already requires those entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days and to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before arrival. — Rob Gillies, ajc, 29 Jan. 2021 Travelers will not be required to self-isolate upon arrival. — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 16 Mar. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Thanks to the highest CBD isolate used, our CBD gummy worms are a wonderful treat for your taste buds. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 May 2022 The 30-count container has a 10mg dose of pure CBD isolate per serving, and each individual serving contains a 10mg total amount of gummies. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 20 Apr. 2022 Brown saw the pandemic isolate and depress students, some of whom presented behavioral problems because they were so overstimulated by their return to school. — Cynthia Howell, Arkansas Online, 3 Apr. 2022 England has now lifted all restrictions, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home. — David Rising, ajc, 7 Mar. 2022 England has now lifted all restrictions, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home. — NBC News, 7 Mar. 2022 England has now lifted all restrictions, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home. — David Rising, ajc, 7 Mar. 2022 England has now lifted all restrictions, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home. — NBC News, 7 Mar. 2022 The original experiments were done using an early SARS-CoV-2 isolate, HK-13, and were repeated using the more recent beta and omicron isolates. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'isolate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near isolate

isolable

isolate

isolated

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Last Updated

16 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Isolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/isolate. Accessed 26 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for isolate

isolate

verb

iso·late | \ ˈī-sə-ˌlāt

isolated; isolating

Kids Definition of isolate

: to place or keep apart from others Isolate any diseased plants.

isolate

transitive verb

iso·late | \ ˈī-sə-ˌlāt

isolated; isolating

Medical Definition of isolate

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to set apart from others: as

a : to separate (one with a contagious disease) from others not similarly infected

b : to separate (as a chemical compound) from all other substances : obtain pure or in a free state

isolate

noun

iso·late | \ ˈī-sə-lət

, -ˌlāt

Medical Definition of isolate (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an individual (as a spore or single organism), a viable part of an organism (as a cell), or a strain that has been isolated (as from diseased tissue, contaminated water, or the air) also : a pure culture produced from such an isolate

2 : a relatively homogeneous population separated from related populations by geographic, biologic, or social factors or by human intervention

3 : a socially withdrawn individual