seclude

verb

se·​clude si-ˈklüd 

secluded; secluding

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to exclude from a privilege, rank, or dignity : debar

2

: to remove or separate from intercourse or outside influence : isolate

3

: shut off, screen

Synonyms

• cut off
• insulate
• isolate
• segregate
• separate
• sequester

Examples of seclude in a Sentence

He secluded himself in his room to study for the exam.

the patients will be secluded until they are no longer contagious

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie, now on Netflix, is a strong comeback vehicle for the Oscar-winning actress Comments There’s a story that soprano Maria Callas, secluded in her Paris apartment in the months before dying of a heart attack at 53, could be found paging sadly through her clippings. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024

In the past five years, Elevations employees have failed to follow mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse, improperly secluded children for days on end and have conducted unauthorized strip searches, according to state records. —Tyler Kingkade, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2024

The cardinals are secluded in hotel-like quarters in the Vatican and sequestered like jurors in newsy trials—insulated from all outside media. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024

Rivera-Killingsworth’s complaint to the federal Office for Civil Rights claims Caleb was secluded for hours at a time, sometimes as long as three hours in spring 2023. —Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to cut off (from), from Latin secludere to separate, seclude, from se- apart + claudere to close — more at secede, close entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

seclude

verb

se·​clude si-ˈklüd 

secluded; secluding

1

: to keep away from others : secrete, hide

secluded themselves

2

: to shut away : screen, isolate

a cottage secluded by forests