single out
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 outShe was singled out for special treatment.
Examples of single out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Paras Griffin / Getty Images Reese credited the collective effort and singled out Borlase's bench contribution as a turning point.
—
Christopher Harris, CBS News, 24 May 2026
The franchise’s president of basketball operations and general manager, one of the key figures in the Lakers’ front office since 2017, singled out Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Many teams single out a veteran at every home game, and last weekend all teams wore camouflage hats to recognize Armed Forces Day.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Thomas singled out Woodrow Wilson—a political scientist, a Progressive, and a Southern Democrat, who, as President, from 1913 to 1921, segregated the civil service and helped create the modern bureaucratic state, including the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for single out
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Christopher Harris, CBS News, 24 May 2026
The franchise’s president of basketball operations and general manager, one of the key figures in the Lakers’ front office since 2017, singled out Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 23 May 2026
Many teams single out a veteran at every home game, and last weekend all teams wore camouflage hats to recognize Armed Forces Day.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 22 May 2026
Thomas singled out Woodrow Wilson—a political scientist, a Progressive, and a Southern Democrat, who, as President, from 1913 to 1921, segregated the civil service and helped create the modern bureaucratic state, including the Federal Reserve and the Federal Trade Commission.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for single out
Cite this Entry
“Single out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single%20out. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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