single

1 of 3

adjective

sin·​gle ˈsiŋ-gəl How to pronounce single (audio)
1
a
: not married
b
: of or relating to celibacy
2
: unaccompanied by others : lone, sole
the single survivor of the disaster
3
a(1)
: consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion
single consonants
(2)
: consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many : uniform
a single standard for men and women
(3)
: consisting of only one in number
holds to a single ideal
b
: having but one whorl of petals or ray flowers
a single rose
4
a
: consisting of a separate unique whole : individual
every single citizen
b
: of, relating to, or involving only one person
5
a
: frank, honest
a single devotion
b
: exclusively attentive
an eye single to the truth
6
7
: having no equal or like : singular
8
: designed for the use of one person only
a single room
a single bed

single

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: a separate individual person or thing
b
: an unmarried person and especially one young and socially active
usually used in plural
c(1)
: a recording having one short tune on each side
(2)
: a music recording having two or more tracks that is shorter than a full-length album
also : a song that is particularly popular independent of other songs on the same album or by the same artist
2
: a base hit that allows the batter to reach first base
3
a
singles plural : a tennis match or similar game with one player on each side
b
: a golf match between two players
usually used in plural
4
: a room (as in a hotel) for one guest compare double sense 7

single

3 of 3

verb

singled; singling ˈsiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce single (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to select or distinguish from a number or group
usually used with out
2
a
: to advance or score (a base runner) by a single
b
: to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a single

intransitive verb

: to make a single in baseball

Examples of single in a Sentence

Adjective A single shoe was found. It costs $10 for a single glass of wine! a single serving of carrots He earns $2,000 in a single week. Noun He hit a single to right field. Do you want to play singles or doubles? Verb He singled to right field.
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.
Adjective
Some are able to do this while only raising a single round of capital. Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025 Secured to the back panel via three sliding screws and a single (knurled) fixing screw, each of the drive bays is individually removable. PC Magazine, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
The right fielder threw out the Pirates’ Tommy Pham on a single by Bryan Reynolds, and George Soriano (1-0) stranded two to set it up for the dramatic finish. Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2025 The first of his two hits was a two-out single that drove in the Padres’ second run. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
University of San Diego product Jack Costello put the first hit in the Padres’ column with one out in the seventh inning, singling sharply to left field. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025 Colorado’s only run came in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Nolan Jones singled on a groundball to Victor Robles, allowing Ezequiel Tovar to score. Sarah Kelly, The Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for single

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sengle, from Anglo-French, from Latin singulus one only; akin to Latin sem- one — more at same

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of single was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Single.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

single

1 of 3 adjective
sin·​gle ˈsiŋ-gəl How to pronounce single (audio)
1
: not married
especially : never having been married
2
: being alone : being the only one
the single survivor of the disaster
3
: consisting of one
a single standard
4
: having only one row of petals or ray flowers around the center of a blossom
a single rose
5
a
: consisting of a separate whole : individual
each single citizen
b
: of, relating to, or involving only one person
6
: being a whole
a single world
7
: designed for the use of one person only
a single room
a single bed
singleness noun

single

2 of 3 noun
1
a
: a separate individual person or thing
b
: an unmarried adult
c(1)
: a recording having one short tune on each side
(2)
: a music recording having two or more tracks that is shorter than a full-length album
2
: a hit in baseball that enables a batter to reach first base safely
3
plural : a game (as of tennis) between two players

single

3 of 3 verb
singled; singling ˈsiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce single (audio)
1
: to select (a person or thing) from a number or group
usually used with out
2
: to make a single in baseball

More from Merriam-Webster on single

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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