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Synonyms

single file

American  

noun

  1. a line of persons or things arranged one behind the other; Indian file.

single file British  

noun

  1. a line of persons, animals, or things ranged one behind the other, either stationary or moving

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

One by one, cattle fall behind him single file to consume a breakfast of ground corn and hay.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 15, 2026

When he finally looked up, he saw players lined up in a single file offering hugs and telling him, “We’re going to win this battle together.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2025

Drone footage from the weekend showed long lines of men and boys standing or walking in single file.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2024

Ships started to stretch, single file, as far across the sea as we could see.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2023

At three in the morning, Bull ordered his entire squadron to line up single file behind him.

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.