- single
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2 Single, sole, unique, lone, solitary, separate, particular can all mean one as distinguished from two or more or all others. SomethingSingle is not accompanied or supported by, or combined or united with, another{
a single instance may be cited
}{the strength of the lyric lies in the complete statement of a single selected facet of ex-perience—Day Lewis
}{that was the greatest single thing that had ever happened to her. No one had ever looked at her and made a respectful gesture before— Theodore Sturgeon
}Something sole is the only one that exists, that acts, that has power or relevance, or that is to be or should be considered{he is the sole heir
}{this is his sole invention
}{your conscience must be the sole judge in this case
}{acquire the sole rights of publication
}{his sole object was to study the form of his sitter's head in every detail— Alexander
}{California is not the sole repository of political virtue in the United States— Armbrister
}Something unique (see also STRANGE) may be the only one of its kind in existence{the medal is unique, for no duplicates were made
}{of the world's geniuses he strikes me as being unique— Mailer
}or it may stand alone because of its unusual character{the unique character of the English conquest of Britain— Malone
}{they stand alone, unique, objects of supreme interest— Osborne
}Something lone (see also ALONE) is not only single but also separated or isolated from others of its kind; the word often replaces single in technical or poetic context{to sit beneath a fair lone beechen tree— Keats
}{the ambitious Aaron Burr, who played a lone hand against the field— Parrington
}{Constitutes the lone industry of the community— Amer. Guide Series: Vt.
}Something solitary (see also ALONE) stands by itself, either as the sole instance or as a unique thing{her world was the Church, in which she hoped that her solitary child would some day be a polished pillar— Buchan
}{began to eat again fiercely, like a great strong animal, tackling the solitary meal of its day— O'Flaherty
}Something separate (see also DISTINCT 1) is not only single, but disconnected from or unconnected with any of the others in question{turning over in his thoughts every separate second of their hours together— Wharton
}{group consciousness . . . makes the individual think lightly of his own separate interests— Cohen
}Something particular (see also SPECIAL; CIRCUMSTANTIAL; NICE 1) is the single or numerically distinct instance, member, or example of the whole or the class considered or under consideration{a special provision for a known and particular territory— Taney
}{Richard . .. replied that he had an engagement at a particular hour, up to which he was her servant— Meredith
}{reality is a succession of concrete and particular situations— Huxley
}Analogous words: individual, particular, *special, especial, specificAntonyms: accompanied: supported: conjugalsingle vb prefer, *choose, select, elect, opt, pick, cull
New Dictionary of Synonyms. 2014.
