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

But other incidents reflect a new, subtler antisemitism students face — including disputes over curriculum and teacher advocacy that some Jewish students and families say leaves them feeling singled out or unsafe. —Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

Early in the monologue, Glaser singled out George Clooney for a very specific inquiry. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026

The company also singled out solid results in South Korea, Japan and the Middle East. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 12 Jan. 2026

Moratin singled out west Orange County real estate developers Scott and Jennifer Boyd as major donors who helped make the scholarships possible. —Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for single out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout