iso·late
ˈī-sə-ˌlāt 
also ˈi-
isolated; isolating
1
: to set apart from others
also
: quarantine
2
: to select from among others
especially
: to separate from another substance so as to obtain pure or in a free state
3
: insulate
1
: an individual, population, strain, or culture obtained by or resulting from selection or separation
2
: an individual socially withdrawn or removed from society
Synonyms
Examples of isolate in a Sentence
Verb
These policies will only serve to isolate the country politically and economically.
Certain patients must be isolated in a separate ward.
When he wants to work, he isolates himself in his office and won't talk to anyone.
Scientists have isolated the gene that causes the disease.
Noun
interpersonal relationships are very stressful for him, so he lives as a virtual isolate
Recent Examples on the Web
Audrey Richardson and Aurora Sousanis, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
If you are infected, do your best to remain hydrated and isolate to control the spread of the virus to others.
—Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 5 Apr. 2024
Today, the empty sky is a constant reminder that, at least for now, they’re isolated.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
Most brands use a supercritical CO2 process to isolate and extract the cannabinoids from hemp.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Attaching contact microphones to each slide whistle was also a possibility, but the work involved in calibrating them to properly isolate the whistle tones simply wasn’t worth it.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Hidden by short grasses and rocks, this lizard has been isolated on the desert flatland for millions of years, cut off from others by towering peaks.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
That type of behavior appears not to be isolated to the world of visual arts.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Eye inflammation—or pink eye—is their only current symptom, and they have been instructed to isolate to prevent further spread.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Karson Yiu, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2022
However, those who have tested positive still need to self-isolate and wear masks.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022
The pair hosted a virtual bingo night for a senior living home, whose residents had to self-isolate in the living facility, and donated 110,000 masks to hospitals across rural Texas.
—Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2022
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arielle reportedly ignored shelter-in-place mandates to self-isolate in the Hamptons.
—Emily Burack, Town & Country, 7 Dec. 2022
They’re being required to remain on the farm and self-isolate with their household groups, with the local council arranging deliveries of food and essential supplies.
—BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2020
More than 2,000 people identified as contacts of Ebola patients have been ordered into makeshift isolation facilities or told to self-isolate at home.
—Nicholas Bariyo, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2022
The pandemic was rough having to self-isolate and continue working three full-time jobs as a social worker, grad student, and intern.
—Channy Ping, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Billy Gilmour had a positive test, and two England players, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were deemed close contacts and had to self-isolate.
—Steve Price, Forbes, 25 June 2022
Dr. Diana Rangaves, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Whole food protein sources will add other nutrients to your diet that a protein isolate will not.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024
Protein type: Soy isolate Pros: Great protein-to-calorie ratio; third-party-tested; made with non-GMO soybeans
Cons: Not suitable for people with soy allergy
8/10
Best Pea Protein: Naked Pea Protein
This high-quality pea protein isolate contains just one single ingredient: yellow pea protein.
—April Benshosan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024
Compared with compound proteins, isolates contain more protein and less fat, carbs, and lactose, the latter of which can cause GI distress and digestion issues for some, Dr. Titchenal explains.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2024
But there can be a deep aesthetic of beauty, too, in the isolate, the singular, the solitary, no-longer-connected or not-yet-fitted.
—New York Times, 1 Feb. 2024
Some people prefer broad-spectrum for the potential entourage effect, while others choose isolates to avoid any trace elements of other cannabinoids.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
And a previous study showed that the drug was effective, when tested in a laboratory, against 13,000 drug-resistant gonorrhea isolates.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 1 Nov. 2023
Full-spectrum contains multiple cannabinoids and terpenes, while isolate contains only pure CBD.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2023
Verb
After a year, Silverman had isolated herself from friends and family to avoid their concern, was dizzy and aching from undereating.
—Audrey Richardson and Aurora Sousanis, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
If you are infected, do your best to remain hydrated and isolate to control the spread of the virus to others.
—Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 5 Apr. 2024
Today, the empty sky is a constant reminder that, at least for now, they’re isolated.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
Most brands use a supercritical CO2 process to isolate and extract the cannabinoids from hemp.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Attaching contact microphones to each slide whistle was also a possibility, but the work involved in calibrating them to properly isolate the whistle tones simply wasn’t worth it.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2024
Hidden by short grasses and rocks, this lizard has been isolated on the desert flatland for millions of years, cut off from others by towering peaks.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
That type of behavior appears not to be isolated to the world of visual arts.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Eye inflammation—or pink eye—is their only current symptom, and they have been instructed to isolate to prevent further spread.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Adjective
People who been in close contact with sick individuals can now self-isolate at home for five days.
—Karson Yiu, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2022
However, those who have tested positive still need to self-isolate and wear masks.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2022
The pair hosted a virtual bingo night for a senior living home, whose residents had to self-isolate in the living facility, and donated 110,000 masks to hospitals across rural Texas.
—Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 19 Oct. 2022
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Arielle reportedly ignored shelter-in-place mandates to self-isolate in the Hamptons.
—Emily Burack, Town & Country, 7 Dec. 2022
They’re being required to remain on the farm and self-isolate with their household groups, with the local council arranging deliveries of food and essential supplies.
—BostonGlobe.com, 12 July 2020
More than 2,000 people identified as contacts of Ebola patients have been ordered into makeshift isolation facilities or told to self-isolate at home.
—Nicholas Bariyo, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2022
The pandemic was rough having to self-isolate and continue working three full-time jobs as a social worker, grad student, and intern.
—Channy Ping, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Billy Gilmour had a positive test, and two England players, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were deemed close contacts and had to self-isolate.
—Steve Price, Forbes, 25 June 2022
Noun
They are also made from CBD isolate, which is pure CBD.
—Dr. Diana Rangaves, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Whole food protein sources will add other nutrients to your diet that a protein isolate will not.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024
Protein type: Soy isolate Pros: Great protein-to-calorie ratio; third-party-tested; made with non-GMO soybeans
Cons: Not suitable for people with soy allergy
8/10
Best Pea Protein: Naked Pea Protein
This high-quality pea protein isolate contains just one single ingredient: yellow pea protein.
—April Benshosan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024
Compared with compound proteins, isolates contain more protein and less fat, carbs, and lactose, the latter of which can cause GI distress and digestion issues for some, Dr. Titchenal explains.
—Jenny McCoy, Glamour, 2 Feb. 2024
But there can be a deep aesthetic of beauty, too, in the isolate, the singular, the solitary, no-longer-connected or not-yet-fitted.
—New York Times, 1 Feb. 2024
Some people prefer broad-spectrum for the potential entourage effect, while others choose isolates to avoid any trace elements of other cannabinoids.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
And a previous study showed that the drug was effective, when tested in a laboratory, against 13,000 drug-resistant gonorrhea isolates.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 1 Nov. 2023
Full-spectrum contains multiple cannabinoids and terpenes, while isolate contains only pure CBD.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'isolate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Cite this Entry
“Isolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/isolate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Medical Definition
isolate
1 of 2 transitive verb
iso·late
ˈī-sə-ˌlāt
isolated; isolating
: to set apart from others: as
a
: to separate (one with a contagious disease) from others not similarly infected
b
: to separate (as a chemical compound) from all other substances : obtain pure or in a free state
1
: an individual (as a spore or single organism), a viable part of an organism (as a cell), or a strain that has been isolated (as from diseased tissue, contaminated water, or the air)
also
: a pure culture produced from such an isolate
2
: a relatively homogeneous population separated from related populations by geographic, biologic, or social factors or by human intervention
3
: a socially withdrawn individual
More from Merriam-Webster on isolate
Nglish: Translation of isolate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of isolate for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about isolate
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