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
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.
By singling out humans as a primary cause of climate change, Francis was making a radical shift in the Vatican’s stance on the environment. Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 22 Apr. 2025 Four Democrats on the House Administration Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Smithsonian Institution, wrote to Vance expressing concerns about Trump’s executive order and his singling out Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025 The Trump administration has singled out Ivy League universities including Columbia and Harvard for broad federal funding cuts. Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025 The Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a yearlong screening series singling out its winners. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 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 25 Apr. 2025.

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