single out

phrasal verb

singled out; singling out; singles out
: to treat or to speak about (someone or something in a group) in a way that is different from the way one treats or speaks about others
The coach singled out the players who played poorly.
The reviewer singled her performance out for praise/criticism.
often used as (be) singled out
She was singled out for special treatment.

Examples of single out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The group’s analysis singled out the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for bringing 148 lobbyists to COP30. Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025 Then, Kylie singled out one of the replies as a favorite. Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025 As for the mayoral wives, Herman singled out Mary Lindsay for her Hamptons styles and pick-up service. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025 Stewart singled out several senators, including Kaine and Jeanne Shaheen, for initially supporting the shutdown and then caving. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for single out

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Single out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single%20out. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!