single

[ sing-guhl ]

adjective

1. only one in number; one only; unique; sole:

   a single example.

   Synonyms: particular, distinct

2. of, relating to, or suitable for one person only:

   a single room.

3. solitary or sole; lone:

   He was the single survivor.

   Synonyms: isolated

4. unmarried or not in a romantic relationship:

   a single man.

   Synonyms: unwed

5. pertaining to the unmarried state:

   the single life.

6. of or noting a parent who brings up a child or children alone, without a partner.
7. of one against one, as combat or fight.
8. consisting of only one part, element, or member:

   a single lens.

9. sincere and undivided:

   single devotion.

10. separate, particular, or distinct; individual:

    Every single one of you must do your best. It's the single most important thing.

11. uniform; applicable to all:

    a single safety code for all manufacturers.

12. (of a bed or bedclothes) twin-size.
13. (of a flower) having only one set of petals.
14. British. of standard strength or body, as ale, beer, etc. Compare double ( def ).
15. (of the eye) seeing rightly.

verb (used with object)

, sin·gled, sin·gling.

1. to pick or choose (one) from others (usually followed by out ):

   to single out a fact for special mention.

   Synonyms: select

2. Baseball.
   1. to cause the advance of (a base runner) by a one-base hit.
   2. to cause (a run) to be scored by a one-base hit (often followed by in or home ).

verb (used without object)

, sin·gled, sin·gling.

1. Baseball. to hit a single.

noun

1. one person or thing; a single one.

   Synonyms: individual

2. an accommodation suitable for one person only, as a hotel room or a table at a restaurant:

   to reserve a single.

3. a ticket for a single seat at a theater.
4. British.
   1. a one-way ticket.
   2. a steam locomotive having one driving wheel on each side.
5. singles, people who are unmarried or not in a romantic relationship, especially if relatively young:

   It's not uncommon for singles to feel lonely on Valentine Day.

6. Baseball. Also called one-base hit. a base hit that enables a batter to reach first base safely.
7. singles, (used with a singular verb) a match with one player on each side, as a tennis match.
8. Golf. twosome ( def 4 ).
9. Cricket. a hit for which one run is scored.
10. Informal. a one-dollar bill.
11. Music.
    1. a phonograph record, CD, or cassette usually having two songs:

       I probably won't buy the single.

    2. one of the songs recorded on a single:

       a hit single.

    3. a song released or promoted separately from the rest of the album to which it belongs:

       A viral video put that single back on the charts.

12. Often singles. Textiles.
    1. reeled or spun silk that may or may not be thrown.
    2. a one-ply yarn of any fiber that has been drawn and twisted.

single

/ ˈsɪŋɡəl /

adjective

1. existing alone; solitary

   upon the hill stood a single tower

2. distinct from other things; unique or individual
3. composed of one part
4. designed for one user

   a single bed

   a single room

5. also postpositive unmarried
6. connected with the condition of being unmarried

   he led a single life

7. (esp of combat) involving two individuals; one against one
8. sufficient for one person or thing only

   a single portion of food

9. even one

   there wasn't a single person on the beach

10. (of a flower) having only one set or whorl of petals
11. determined; single-minded

    a single devotion to duty

12. (of the eye) seeing correctly

    to consider something with a single eye

13. rare.
    honest or sincere; genuine
14. archaic.
    (of ale, beer, etc) mild in strength

noun

1. something forming one individual unit
2. an unmarried person
3. a gramophone record, CD, or cassette with a short recording, usually of pop music, on it
4. golf a game between two players
5. cricket a hit from which one run is scored
6. 1. a pound note
   2. a dollar note
7. See single ticket

verb

1. trusually foll byout to select from a group of people or things; distinguish by separation

   he singled him out for special mention

2. tr to thin out (seedlings)
3. short for single-foot

Derived Forms

• ˈsingleness, noun

Other Words From

• quasi-single adjective
• quasi-singly adverb
• un·single adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of single¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; late Middle English (adjective), Middle English sengle, from Old French, from Latin singulus “individual, single” (usually in the plural singuli “one apiece”); simplex none, simultaneous none

Word History and Origins

Origin of single¹

C14: from Old French sengle, from Latin singulus individual

Idioms and Phrases

• each and every (every single)

Example Sentences

The nation’s most painful sacrifices were absorbed by his Democratic predecessors—in Obama’s case, that was the agonizingly slow recovery from the Great Recession that began under George W. Bush, and in Biden’s it was the pandemic-era round of inflation that struck every single country on the planet.

From Slate

All of his hiring decisions so far, including Monday’s news that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting Director Tom Homan will serve as Trump’s border czar, and then his selection of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem—a proponent of Trump’s mass expulsion—as secretary of Homeland Security, signal that he actually intends to move forward with the insane idea to deport every single one of the at least 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

From Slate

But here is where the interests of the incoming Trump regime align with those of us who surely would not like to endure another round of price increases for the sake of carrying out the single most morally unconscionable national domestic policy since the internment of Japanese citizens during World War II.

From Slate

“Elon was texting me this morning. Think about having the brain of Elon Musk to sacrifice his time away from his businesses to help every single American make government more efficient, more accountable,” McCarthy said.

From Los Angeles Times

But testing a hypothesis is not as simple as conducting a single experiment.

From Slate

Related Words

• individual
• lone
• original
• particular
• personal
• private
• separate
• simple
• sole
• special
• specific