single file
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of single file
First recorded in 1660–70
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.
"In the end, everything worked out. Everyone went down in a single file, everyone helping, and we managed to finish the trail, see the sunrise, and experience that adrenaline rush," Nobre told the paper.
From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026
It used to take me a few days to get all my different receipts into a single file for my accountant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026
Drone footage from the weekend showed long lines of men and boys standing or walking in single file.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2024
Compared to cells moving in a single file, clusters were much slower.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2024
The team formed a circle, placed their hands on top of each other, then broke in a single file for the double doors.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
