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 outShe was singled out for special treatment.
Examples of single out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His attorneys argued that the evidence was inconclusive and that he was singled out because of his ultra-conservative Muslim beliefs.
—
Eric Tucker, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
The event evidently singled out Newsom due to his frontrunner status in very early pre-campaign polling, as well as the leading role California’s high tech industry plays in developing AI and Newsom’s somewhat ambivalent attitude toward AI’s potential effects.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Some critics see this surge of ticketing legislation as a way to distract from Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s legal troubles and single out the resale market.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The outsized attention on Austin ISD’s handling of the protests is the latest example in recent months of Abbott, Paxton and other state conservatives singling out the urban district in a progressive city.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for single out
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Eric Tucker, Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
The event evidently singled out Newsom due to his frontrunner status in very early pre-campaign polling, as well as the leading role California’s high tech industry plays in developing AI and Newsom’s somewhat ambivalent attitude toward AI’s potential effects.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Some critics see this surge of ticketing legislation as a way to distract from Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s legal troubles and single out the resale market.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
The outsized attention on Austin ISD’s handling of the protests is the latest example in recent months of Abbott, Paxton and other state conservatives singling out the urban district in a progressive city.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Feb. 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 10 Feb. 2026.
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