1
a
: not married
b
: of or relating to celibacy
3
a(1)
: consisting of or having only one part, feature, or portion
single consonants
(2)
: consisting of one as opposed to or in contrast with many : uniform
a single standard for men and women
(3)
: consisting of only one in number
holds to a single ideal
b
: having but one whorl of petals or ray flowers
a single rose
4
a
: consisting of a separate unique whole : individual
every single citizen
b
: of, relating to, or involving only one person
7
: having no equal or like : singular
8
: designed for the use of one person only
a single room
a single bed
1
a
: a separate individual person or thing
b
: an unmarried person and especially one young and socially active
—usually used in plural
c(1)
: a recording having one short tune on each side
(2)
: a music recording having two or more tracks that is shorter than a full-length album
also
: a song that is particularly popular independent of other songs on the same album or by the same artist
2
: a base hit that allows the batter to reach first base
3
a
singles plural
: a tennis match or similar game with one player on each side
b
: a golf match between two players
—usually used in plural
4
: a room (as in a hotel) for one guest compare double sense 7
singled; singling
ˈsiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to select or distinguish from a number or group
—usually used with out
2
a
: to advance or score (a base runner) by a single
b
: to bring about the scoring of (a run) by a single
: to make a single in baseball
Synonyms
Examples of single in a Sentence
Adjective
A single shoe was found.
It costs $10 for a single glass of wine!
a single serving of carrots
He earns $2,000 in a single week.
Noun
He hit a single to right field.
Do you want to play singles or doubles?
Verb
He singled to right field.
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
The man was taken to a Fargo, N.D., hospital by ambulance to be treated for a single gunshot wound.
—Matt Henson, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Charles Moss, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Ahead of that project arriving, the first single taken from the set has not only become a hit for the musician, but a very important champion.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
In Game 1, Matsui singled and homered off future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in a 3-1 win.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for single 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Adjective
Vents in the front and across the top of the head are all controlled easily with a single switch and make the helmet highly breathable.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
The man was taken to a Fargo, N.D., hospital by ambulance to be treated for a single gunshot wound.
—Matt Henson, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
The five friends, inspired to make more music together, released a new single every month from January to June of 2023.
—Charles Moss, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Ahead of that project arriving, the first single taken from the set has not only become a hit for the musician, but a very important champion.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
In the 10th, Treinen gave up a run when Jazz Chisholm Jr. singled, stole second base, stole third base and scored on a force play.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
In Game 1, Matsui singled and homered off future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in a 3-1 win.
—Chuck Murr, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for single
Dictionary Entries Near single
Cite this Entry
“Single.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/single. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
single
1 of 3 adjective
sin·gle
ˈsiŋ-gəl
1
: not married
especially
: never having been married
2
: being alone : being the only one
the single survivor of the disaster
3
: consisting of one
a single standard
4
: having only one row of petals or ray flowers around the center of a blossom
a single rose
5
a
: consisting of a separate whole : individual
each single citizen
b
: of, relating to, or involving only one person
6
: being a whole
a single world
7
: designed for the use of one person only
a single room
a single bed
singleness
noun
single
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a separate individual person or thing
b
: an unmarried adult
c(1)
: a recording having one short tune on each side
(2)
: a music recording having two or more tracks that is shorter than a full-length album
2
: a hit in baseball that enables a batter to reach first base safely
3
plural
: a game (as of tennis) between two players
single
3 of 3 verb
singled; singling
ˈsiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ
1
: to select (a person or thing) from a number or group
—usually used with out
2
: to make a single in baseball
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