single 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsiŋ-gəl How to pronounce single (audio)
Definition of singlenext
1
as in unmarried
not married there was such a shortage of single men in the neighborhood that he had his pick of girlfriends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sole
belonging only to the one person, unit, or group named any view expressed on the newspaper's editorial pages is the single opinion of the writer of the column

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in separate
not physically attached to another unit the average price of single homes in the area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in lone
not being in the company of others a restaurant where the single diner is made to feel welcome and given the same level of service as couples or groups

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

single

2 of 2

noun

1
as in individual

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in unit

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
3
as in maiden

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of single
Adjective
His efforts dragged him into a love triangle with Annis and her former partner, Corbin Mims, which ultimately left Caleb single ahead of Casa Amor, the show’s midseason twist. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 10 July 2026 But if the definition of fitness is how much force a body can generate in a single second, National Football League players appear fitter. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Noun
Alongside the track, Whitney Whitney shared the music video for her new single, which PEOPLE can exclusively premiere. — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026 Third baseman Nick Loftin recorded an RBI single to cut into the Royals’ early deficit. — Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for single
Recent Examples of Synonyms for single
  1. unmarried
  2. sole
  3. separate
  4. lone
  5. individual
  6. unit
  7. maiden
  8. exclusive
Adjective
  • To claim Head of Household (HOH), the taxpayer generally must be unmarried (single, legally separated, divorced, or widowed) or be considered unmarried, pay more than half the cost of maintaining the home, and have a qualifying person.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • While church policies emphasized that unmarried women had the right to keep their children and the children had a right to remain with their mothers, staff often ignored this guidance and worked closely with adoption agencies, researchers found.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 June 2026
Definition of unmarried
Adjective
  • Hansen was the sole Canadian on the four-person crew, which also included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Life leaves a mark, yet even now there’s no scientific consensus about what makes living things so different from inorganic substances like the rocks, gases, and oceans that are the sole components of dead worlds.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 July 2026
Definition of sole
Adjective
  • Instead of promoting their efforts, Republican lawmakers were left scrambling when the president abruptly withdrew his support over a separate political fight.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • In 2026, the agency is again incentivizing participants with cash — there are separate categories for novices and professionals, each with their own prizes.
    — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 10 July 2026
Definition of separate
Adjective
  • The trio are the lone players to have 12 hits in as many plate appearances, ever.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
  • In the long shadows of the Pacific Northwest, the Yanks were fortunate not to trail 5-1 at the half — and their lone goal came on a Malik Tillman free kick that deflected off a Belgian defender’s head into the net.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
Definition of lone
Noun
  • According to the accompanying letter, state ethics rules prohibit employees from accepting gifts of value from individuals who had been subjects of investigations.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
Definition of individual
Noun
  • Dozens of people lined up outside several Lidl stores across the Paris region on Thursday, all hoping to get their hands on an air conditioning unit.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • The partnership highlights the growing potential of Poltrona Frau’s Custom Interiors unit and its leadership in developing furniture that integrates into high-profile cultural and architectural projects.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of unit
Noun
  • The heartbreak of falling just short of her maiden maiden title was visibly heavy on Muchová during the trophy ceremony.
    — Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher and Josh Tongue were dismissed in two double-wicket maidens by Henry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 June 2026
Definition of maiden
Adjective
  • Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
    — Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • Subscribe here to our newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings — all only available to subscribers.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of exclusive

Phrases Containing single

Browse Nearby Words

singing (out)
single
single combat
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Cite this Entry

“Single.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/single. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on single

Nglish: Translation of single for Spanish Speakers

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