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to isolate

to isolate

256 4.2
To keep someone or something apart from others
  • verb
  • /ˈaɪsəˌleɪt/
translation icon : aislar
  • We've pretty much been isolated here.
  • feel isolated
  • socially isolated
  • isolated from others

And the more they isolate you, the more control they have.

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Examples

  • You don't want to isolate yourself to just one thing.

  • The policies killed people because they isolated people.

  • The individual will isolate himself in his own activity.

  • And the more they isolate you, the more control they have.

  • So I can deliberately isolate myself and feel great about that.

  • Students with diabetes may feel isolated from their peers due to their disease.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Isolate yourself until we know you're not ill.

  • In one outbreak, the agent was isolated from food handled by children during a craft project.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Parallel attempts were made to deny legitimacy to Israel and isolate it in the international community.

    Academic text (2013)
  • To prevent the spread of the virus, the doctor advised us to isolate ourselves until we receive our test results.

Synonyms

to separate from
vsto isolate
219 2.7

To keep one thing apart from another so they do not mix

is the general act of making someone or something alone or apart
to distance
vsto isolate
77 5.7

To make yourself less involved with someone or something

is a general keeping apart, not restricted to emotional withdrawal
75 7.0

Keep away from someone or something to show no connection

is physical or general separation rather than only emotional distancing
to keep apart
vsto isolate
41 3.2

To stop people or objects from touching and mixing

is a general separation idea not only about preventing mixing
to sequester
vsto isolate
29 8.1

To keep someone or something apart from others to avoid outside contact

keeps apart generally rather than for a narrowly defined reason
to insulate
vsto isolate
27 6.0

Keep someone apart from others to protect them from harm or criticism

is neutral separation without the protective or shielding focus
to segregate
vsto isolate
22 6.8

To separate things or parts for a special purpose

is broader separation rather than separation based on a characteristic
12 4.2

To stay away from people or things to avoid close contact

covers separation for any reason, not just deliberate avoidance of contact
to shut away
vsto isolate
3 5.5

Keep people and things in a place where they cannot leave or be seen

means keeping apart but not necessarily by confinement or restriction
to cloister
vsto isolate
3 8.6

To shut someone or yourself away from the outside world

covers separation generally rather than focused withdrawal from the world
to set apart
vsto isolate
2 3.9

To keep something separate for a special use or to show it as different

means simple physical or social separation rather than special designation
to seclude
vsto isolate
2 6.7

To keep somebody away from other people

refers to general separation rather than specifically for privacy or retreat
to quarantine oneself
vsto isolate
1 6.2

To stay away from other people after being near someone with an illness to avoid spreading disease

separates people or things for any reason, not only disease prevention
to sequestrate
vsto isolate
  • UK
9.9

To separate someone or something from others by official action

means simple separation without implying legal or formal steps
to enisle
vsto isolate
  • Archaic
9.9

To make someone or yourself live apart from other people, like on an island

covers simple separation without the island metaphor or imagery
to enisle oneself
vsto isolate
  • Archaic
9.9

To keep yourself away from other people on purpose

expresses general keeping apart rather than a deliberate island-like withdrawal
to cloister away
vsto isolate
9.1

To keep a person or thing alone in a quiet place away from other people

is broader, applying to separation in many contexts not just retreat
to separate off
vsto isolate
4.2

To divide a space with a wall or curtain to make a new area

covers separation broadly, not limited to dividing objects or spaces
to siloed
vsto isolate
  • Jargon
7.9

To keep groups or information separate so they do not share knowledge

is simple separation not specifically about organizational or informational silos

Antonyms

1.0

To make a person or thing part of something larger

278 1.1

Join two things so they form one piece

How Isolated

to ostracize
  • US
31 7.7
to seclude
2 6.7
to isolate
256 4.2
separate
829 2.1

Surface Forms

isolate infinitive
isolated past
isolated past participle
isolating present participle
isolates third person singular

Morphology

isolate = isola + ate

Although historically built from a root meaning 'island' plus the verb-forming suffix '-ate', the connection to any familiar English base is not form-transparent to learners and the modern senses are metaphorical.

Etymology

The word isolate comes from the Latin insula ('island') and the Italian isola ('island'). So to isolate someone or something is to make them like an 'island'—to keep them apart or alone to stop contact.