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

When any group, especially one with a long history of persecution, is singled out, scapegoated or attacked, the foundation of liberty is at risk for everyone. —Larry Hogan, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2025

Watts, a social media specialist, and another female city staffer, were soon singled out for scorn by the online mob, despite having nothing to do with posting the tweet. —Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025

Pregnant people were singled out in 1989, after reports that some hospitals were refusing to care for uninsured women in labor. —Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 3 June 2025

The statement also singled out the Trump administration's threat of stripping visas away from Chinese students studying at U.S. universities as undermining the trade agreement between the nations. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 2 June 2025

Rhymes for single out

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