self-isolate
verb
self-iso·late
ˌself-ˈī-sə-ˌlāt 
also -ˈi-
self-isolated; self-isolating; self-isolates
: to isolate or separate oneself or itself from others
Feelings of shame and a tendency to self-isolate in order to hide the behaviors can result in loss of social support.—
Alex Gitterman
Alex GittermanMy husband and I are both 85 and have heart problems, so even before the new orders we were self-isolating to avoid getting or passing on coronavirus.—Louise Cate
Louise CateGovernment officials said that public gatherings must be restricted to two people. … Those over 70 should self-isolate themselves.—Lidia Kelly
Lidia Kellyself-isolated people/countries
Examples of self-isolate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
British health officials said two of the ship’s passengers who flew home earlier in its journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms of illness.
—Annie Risemberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
His wife, who traveled with him, is self-isolating but has not shown symptoms.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
The infected workers quickly self-isolated.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
The child self-isolated and is no longer contagious, according to the health district.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 8 Aug. 2025
Individuals who develop any symptoms of measles should self-isolate, stay away from others and should first call their health care provider or the medical facility before going in, in order to avoid exposing other patients.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 16 June 2025
Instead, these attempts led Hale to becoming very paranoid, more secretive, and to further self-isolate herself from the world.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
The call came while the young Englishman was self-isolating for two weeks with Covid-19.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Willis attended Moore’s memoir launch in 2019, and the two self-isolated together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Makena Gera, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
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Annie Risemberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
His wife, who traveled with him, is self-isolating but has not shown symptoms.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
The infected workers quickly self-isolated.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
The child self-isolated and is no longer contagious, according to the health district.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 8 Aug. 2025
Individuals who develop any symptoms of measles should self-isolate, stay away from others and should first call their health care provider or the medical facility before going in, in order to avoid exposing other patients.
—Stephanie Innes, AZCentral.com, 16 June 2025
Instead, these attempts led Hale to becoming very paranoid, more secretive, and to further self-isolate herself from the world.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
The call came while the young Englishman was self-isolating for two weeks with Covid-19.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Willis attended Moore’s memoir launch in 2019, and the two self-isolated together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Makena Gera, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-isolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-isolate. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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