single out

choose one person from a group for special attention or treatment

C1

What does "single sb out" mean?

To single out someone or something is to deliberately separate them from a group and direct a particular kind of attention or treatment toward them — praise, criticism, punishment, or special recognition. The key idea is conspicuousness: the person selected is made to stand apart from everyone else, not just quietly identified. This attention can be positive or negative depending on context — a manager might single out an employee for exceptional work, or a critic might single out a film for particular scorn. The verb carries a sense of deliberateness and social visibility that distinguishes it from more neutral words for choosing. It works equally well in formal writing, journalism, and everyday conversation.

Examples

How to use it

single out + noun

The most common structure, where a noun phrase follows the particle. With shorter noun phrases, separation is also natural.

The judge singled out one entry for special commendation.

single + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — there is no alternative.

There were twenty applicants, but they singled her out immediately.

be singled out for + noun/gerund

The passive form is extremely common and is used to describe someone's experience of being selected. 'For' introduces the reason or purpose.

He was singled out for praise at the annual staff review.

be singled out as + noun

The passive with 'as' is used when the selection involves categorising someone or giving them a label.

The report was singled out as a model of clarity by academic reviewers.

feel singled out

This pattern expresses the subjective experience of being conspicuously chosen, often with an uncomfortable or unfair implication.

She felt singled out when the manager questioned only her work in front of the whole team.

Common Collocations

singled out for praisesingled out for criticismsingled out as an examplefeel singled outunfairly singled outsingled out from the rest

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, it must come between 'single' and 'out'. Placing it after the particle is ungrammatical.

✗ The teacher singled out her for extra practice.
✓ The teacher singled her out for extra practice.
Confusing with 'pick on'

'Pick on' is informal and implies repeated unfair treatment or bullying, whereas 'single out' is neutral and can describe either positive or negative attention. Using 'single out' to describe ongoing bullying, or 'pick on' in formal contexts, will feel wrong to native speakers.

✗ He's always picking on the best student to demonstrate good technique.
✓ He always singles out the best student to demonstrate good technique.
Using 'single out' for purely practical selection

'Single out' implies that the chosen person or thing is made conspicuous — given a social spotlight. For straightforward selection with no element of special treatment or scrutiny, 'pick out' or 'choose' is more appropriate.

✗ She singled out a red pen from the drawer to sign the form.
✓ She picked out a red pen from the drawer to sign the form.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both formal writing and everyday speech. It can be positive or negative depending on context — being singled out for praise is good, but being singled out for blame feels unfair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'single out' be positive, or does it always mean something bad?

It can be either, which is what makes it distinctive. Being singled out for praise or an award is entirely positive, while being singled out for criticism or blame feels negative. The word itself is neutral — context tells you which way it goes.

What's the difference between 'singled out for' and 'singled out as'?

'For' introduces the treatment or attention the person receives — for example, 'singled out for promotion' or 'singled out for scrutiny'. 'As' introduces a label or categorisation — for example, 'singled out as a troublemaker' or 'singled out as the best candidate'. Both are very natural, but they frame the selection slightly differently.

Can I use 'single out' in the present continuous — like 'is singling out'?

It's grammatically possible but sounds unusual in most contexts. 'Single out' describes a deliberate, discrete act of selection rather than an ongoing process, so tenses like the past simple, present perfect, or passive tend to sound far more natural. If you find yourself wanting the present continuous, consider whether 'is targeting' or 'keeps choosing' might express your meaning better.

Does 'single out' always need an object?

Yes — it always requires an object. You cannot use it without specifying who or what is being singled out. You can say 'she was singled out' in the passive (where the object becomes the subject), but there is no intransitive use like 'the teacher singled out' with nothing following.

Is 'feel singled out' always negative?

Almost always. Even when the underlying selection is positive, saying someone 'feels singled out' usually suggests they find the attention uncomfortable or unwanted. If you want to express that someone was pleased to be chosen, it's more natural to say they 'felt honoured' or 'were proud to be singled out for' something.

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