single file
noun
: a row of persons, animals, or things arranged one behind the other
single file
adverb
Examples of single file in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In this volatile environment, students at the José Urbina López Primary School wear crisp uniforms and diligently stand in single file, obeying their teachers’ pleas for silence, even though the sound of gunfire might erupt at any moment.
—
Pat Padua, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023
The narrow width can be a nightmare for soldiers who have to move single file through them.
—Justin Scheck, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2023
The two teams, representing the world’s two longstanding baseball superpowers, entered the field at loanDepot Park on Tuesday in a single file from each outfield corner.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2023
The soon-to-be 88-year-old Dr. Glenn Bynum quietly assesses each fighter as men of varying ages, ethnicities and weight classes line up single file in their underwear for the stressful final weigh-in.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023
After taking shelter in the store for 45 minutes, the police led them outside in a single file.
—Jack Douglas, Devlin Barrett, Marisa Iati, Bryan Pietsch, Brittany Shammas, Maham Javaid, Justin Wm. Moyer and Niha Masih, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 8 May 2023
Following the awards, the youngsters were marched around the plaza in single file to be given booklets on proper bicycle riding and pins and stickpins by St. Onge and individual bricks of ice cream donated by the Sanitary Ice Cream company.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023
Men wearing badges numbered 42 and 43 shuffled in sandals and flip-flops in single file across the courtyard behind aid workers to tents.
—Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 16 June 2023
Later, about 25 migrants were led in single file through the gate into the United States and onto a white school-bus style vehicle that drove away.
—Fabiola Sánchez, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2023
See More
Pat Padua, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023
The narrow width can be a nightmare for soldiers who have to move single file through them.
—Justin Scheck, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2023
The two teams, representing the world’s two longstanding baseball superpowers, entered the field at loanDepot Park on Tuesday in a single file from each outfield corner.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2023
The soon-to-be 88-year-old Dr. Glenn Bynum quietly assesses each fighter as men of varying ages, ethnicities and weight classes line up single file in their underwear for the stressful final weigh-in.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023
After taking shelter in the store for 45 minutes, the police led them outside in a single file.
—Jack Douglas, Devlin Barrett, Marisa Iati, Bryan Pietsch, Brittany Shammas, Maham Javaid, Justin Wm. Moyer and Niha Masih, The Washington Post, Anchorage Daily News, 8 May 2023
Following the awards, the youngsters were marched around the plaza in single file to be given booklets on proper bicycle riding and pins and stickpins by St. Onge and individual bricks of ice cream donated by the Sanitary Ice Cream company.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2023
Men wearing badges numbered 42 and 43 shuffled in sandals and flip-flops in single file across the courtyard behind aid workers to tents.
—Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 16 June 2023
Later, about 25 migrants were led in single file through the gate into the United States and onto a white school-bus style vehicle that drove away.
—Fabiola Sánchez, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'single file.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1609, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near single file
Cite this Entry
“Single file.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single%20file. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
single file
noun
: a line of persons or things arranged one behind another
single file
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share