individuate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to form into an individual or distinct entity.
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to give an individual or distinctive character to; individualize.
verb (used without object)
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to make distinctions.
to individuate among one's students.
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to become individualized or distinctive.
With maturity, the artist individuated.
verb
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to give individuality or an individual form to
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to distinguish from others of the same species or group; individualize
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of individuate
First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin indīviduātus, past participle of indīviduāre “to make individual”; see individual, -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Jonas Brothers in 2023 offer cool adult-contemporary sounds for an audience that grew up with them, similarly navigating the life that emerges once you begin to individuate, become intimate and start families.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 26, 2023
I try to make sure it’s all the steps along the route as you individuate from your family and become a professional.
From The Verge ● May 3, 2022
Robust peer friendships allow adolescents to safely individuate from their parents, but in these settings, peers can feel pitted against each other.
From Salon ● May 1, 2022
But the Netflix limited series is such a compelling watch because it takes care to individuate Alex’s story.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 30, 2021
In particular, it may be said of individuality that, while the tendency to individuate is everywhere present in the organized world, it is everywhere opposed by the tendency towards reproduction.
From Creative Evolution by Arthur Mitchell
Western traditions want to assert an autonomous being who is strongly individuated from other beings.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022
“It kind of has to be a collective support structure, not an individuated one of. And how do we do that without real government policy?”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 19, 2021
Such a space can represent the wish image of air travel: a personalized adventure, the individuated feeling of being spirited up and across a continent or ocean with no apparent obstacles.
From Slate ● Mar. 18, 2020
Maybe one day Detroit’s beautiful, empty interstates will turn into rivers of individuated, autonomous mass transit.
From New York Times ● Nov. 20, 2017
Many of the people in the paintings are sharply individuated.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
“Counter to what we expected, the individuating information didn’t reduce or remove bias,” Ellingson said.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 9, 2021
To be “one of Harvey’s victims” is—has to be—the opposite of individuating.
From Slate ● Feb. 20, 2020
It’s a little like when we were talking about childhood and individuating.
From New York Times ● May 14, 2018
By individuating their lives in fiercely lyrical language, each in their own way sings, critiques, and dances the body electric.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 13, 2016
For this process is the cement which binds the whole together; this is the individuating principle that makes England what England is.
From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 09 (of 12) by Edmund Burke
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
