singly

[ sing-glee ]

/ ˈsɪŋ gli /

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See synonyms for singly on Thesaurus.com

adverb

apart from others; separately.

one at a time; as single units.

singlehanded; alone.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of singly

First recorded in 1250–1300, singly is from the Middle English word senglely.See single, -ly

Words nearby singly

single whip, single wicket, single-wide, single wingback formation, Singlish, singly, sing out, Sing Sing, sing someone's praises, singsong, singspiel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use singly in a sentence

There are six kinds of jumps in the skating arsenal, which means that at most, a skater who can can perform eight triples — six singly and two in combination — in a long program.
The Quad Jump Revolution Has Transformed Women’s Figure Skating. How Far Will It Go?|Dvora Meyers|February 3, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
Marrying yourself merely underscores selfishness and self-interest, rather than enabling you to live singly in the best way.
Why Singles Should Say ‘I Don’t’ to The Self-Marriage Movement|Tim Teeman|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bree cautions us against thinking about any of the characters singly.
Albert Camus, Our Existential Epidemiologist|Malcolm Jones|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They traveled in pairs or singly, and headed off to separate destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Dubai's Hollywood Hitmen|James Carroll|February 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST

They lie either singly or superimposed to form more or less irregular clusters (Fig. 36).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The crystals are dark-brown rhombic plates lying singly or in crosses, and are easily recognized (Fig. 83).
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
These villages are widely distributed—isolated for the most part singly among the surrounding Kurds and Christians.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
They came singly and in groups, in carriages, farm wagons, automobiles and afoot.
Patchwork|Anna Balmer Myers
To vow unto him singly, or unitedly, was a duty of his covenant.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for singly

singly

/ (ˈsɪŋɡlɪ) /

adverb

one at a time; one by one

apart from others; separately; alone

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

singly

Origin of singly

Words nearby singly

Words related to singly

How to use singly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for singly