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single out

phrasal verb

Definition of single 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.

Word by Word Definitions

single play

  1. : not married

  2. : of or relating to celibacy

  3. : unaccompanied by others : lone, sole

  1. : a separate individual person or thing

  2. : an unmarried person and especially one young and socially active

  3. : a recording having one short tune on each side

  1. : to select or distinguish from a number or group

  2. : to advance or score (a base runner) by a single

  3. : to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a single

See the full definition of single
out play

  1. : in a direction away from the inside or center

  2. : outside

  3. : from among others

  1. : eject, oust

  2. : to identify publicly as being such secretly

  3. : to become publicly known

  1. used as a function word to indicate an outward movement

  1. : situated outside : external

  2. : out-of-bounds

  3. : situated at a distance : outlying

  1. : outside

  2. : one who is out of office or power or on the outside

  3. : an act or instance of putting a player out or of being put out in baseball

  1. : in a manner that exceeds or surpasses and sometimes overpowers or defeats

See the full definition of out

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