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
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Fortunately, a number of firms that Trump has singled out for attacks with executive orders, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Perkins Coie, are pushing back, forcing the administration to make its case in a court of law. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025 Among the nations Trump has singled out for tariffs are the U.S.’ two biggest trading partners and neighbors: Mexico and Canada. Michael Loria, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025 Then, in their postmortem news conferences, Beane and coach Sean McDermott singled out Kincaid as someone who must be more committed to physically preparing for the rigors of an NFL campaign. Tim Graham, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Real Madrid superstars Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo have been singled out for not replicating their club form with the national team. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for single out

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Cite this Entry

“Single out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single%20out. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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