self-isolate

verb

self-iso·​late ˌself-ˈī-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce self-isolate (audio)
 also  -ˈi-
self-isolated; self-isolating; self-isolates

transitive + intransitive

: to isolate or separate oneself or itself from others
Feelings of shame and a tendency to self-isolate in order to hide the behaviors can result in loss of social support.Alex Gitterman
My husband and I are both 85 and have heart problems, so even before the new orders we were self-isolating to avoid getting or passing on coronavirus.Louise Cate
Government officials said that public gatherings must be restricted to two people … . Those over 70 should self-isolate themselves.Lidia Kelly
self-isolated people/countries

Examples of self-isolate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Willis attended Moore’s memoir launch in 2019, and the two self-isolated together during the COVID-19 pandemic. Makena Gera, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025 Committing to ‘uninterrupted concentration’ Throughout his career, Gates has frequently credited his success to his voracious reading habit and ability to self-isolate. Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 4 Dec. 2024 Strange experiences prompt you to self-isolate as the moon clashes with Neptune. USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 Biden returned to his home in Delaware to self-isolate. Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 22 July 2024 Tom Brenner | Reuters Biden, who is currently self-isolating in Delaware after testing positive for Covid-19 Wednesday, has persistently rejected calls to drop out. Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 18 July 2024 On your radar Biden’s schedule has been cleared since he was diagnosed with COVID-19 and is self-isolating in Delaware. Keely Bastow, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 July 2024 The president plans to self-isolate in line with CDC guidance. Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 July 2024 Biden was supposed to speak at the UnidosUS conference Wednesday night, but Jean-Pierre said the President would return to his home state of Delaware to self-isolate and continue his duties. Chantelle Lee, TIME, 18 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-isolate was in 1925

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-isolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-isolate. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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