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to choose one person or thing from a group for special attention, especially criticism or praise: be singled out for It's not fair the way my sister is always singled out for special treatment. Jamie was thrilled when the teacher singled out his poem and asked him to read it aloud. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Taking and choosing.
phrasal verb. single somebody/something out (for something/as somebody/something) to choose somebody/something from a group for special attention. She was singled out for criticism. He was singled out as the outstanding performer of the games.
Definition of 'single out' single out. phrasal verb. If you single someone out from a group, you choose them and give them special attention or treatment. The gunman had singled Debilly out and waited for him. [VERB noun PARTICLE] His immediate superior has singled him out for a special mention. [V n P + for]
To single out is to focus on just one person in a larger group, either for special recognition or treatment. Your art teacher might single out one student each year to show their work at a gallery. Even when all of your friends have been misbehaving, your parents might single you out for punishment or criticism.
Choose or distinguish from others, as in We singled him out from all the other applicants . This idiom was first recorded in 1629.
to choose someone or something from a group for special attention She was singled out for criticism. He was singled out as the outstanding performer of the games.
