single out

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle out

Usefulness
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Meanings

1

Choose one person or thing from a group for special attention

Why “out”? Something comes into the open. People can see it, know it, or understand it.

She was singled out for praise.
She was chosen from the group for special praise.
The report singled out one school.
The report chose one school from the group for special attention.

Common mistake

He was singled out from praise.

He was singled out for praise.

Use for before the reason.

Natural collocations

The word partners “single out” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.

single out for praisesingle someone outsingled out unfairly

Test yourself

She was singled out for praise. What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

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