single

adjective
UK: /ˈsɪŋɡl/
US: /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

  1. One only; not multiple or combined.

    1. I only want a single rose. [ ] [ ]
    2. She lives in a single room and has to share the bathroom with others. [ ] [ ]

  2. Designed for or consisting of one person or thing.

    1. I booked a single room for my trip. [ ] [ ]
    2. This engine is a single cylinder, producing very little power. [ ] [ ]

  3. Not married or having a romantic partner.

    1. She's been single for five years. [ ] [ ]
    2. Being single allows me to focus on my career without distractions. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

unmarried individual separate sole
single verb

  1. To choose or separate out something from a group.

    1. Please single out the best essay. [ ] [ ]
    2. The teacher had to single him out for bad behavior. [ ] [ ]
single noun

  1. A recording featuring one main song.

    1. Her new single is out now. [ ] [ ]
    2. The band released a single before the album came out. [ ] [ ]

  2. A game played with only two players or sides.

    1. He is very good at singles. [ ] [ ]
    2. She prefers playing singles, rather than doubles in tennis. [ ] [ ]
single adverb

  1. Alone or by oneself.

    1. I walked home single after the party. [ ] [ ]
    2. The bird flew single across the open sky. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "single" in English means: One only; not multiple or combined., Designed for or consisting of one person or thing., Not married or having a romantic partner..

The phonetic transcription of "single" is /ˈsɪŋɡl/ in British English and /ˈsɪŋɡəl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "single": unmarried, individual, separate, sole.

Example usage of "single": "I only want a single rose.". More examples on the page.