single

Every individual person or item within a group, without exception. This is going to be the hardest game we've played all year, so I need every single one of you giving it everything you've got! I can't believe it, every single one of these dishes has been broken!

All at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. When the economy crashed, thousands of people lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions at a single stroke. As the two leaders ratified the treaty, 10 years of civil war ended at a stroke.

All at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. When the economy crashed, thousands of people lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions at a single blow. As the two leaders ratified the treaty, 10 years of civil war ended at a blow.

A daunting task can usually be started by doing a simple thing. I'm feeling really overwhelmed about my research project, but I have to start somewhere, since a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Fig. lined up, one behind the other; in a line, one person or one thing wide. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; march ~; walk ~.) Have you ever seen ducks walking in single file? Please get into single file. Please march in single file.

(about someone or something) Go to of one mind (about someone or something).

in agreement about someone or something. You will have to attend one of the state universities. Your father and I are of a single mind about this.

a line of things or people, one person or one thing wide. (See also in single file.) Please get into single file. You have to march single file.

to choose or pick someone or something for something; to select an eligible person or thing for something. The committee singled her out for a special award. We singled out Liz for special honors.

in agreement We're of one mind on most political issues.

to choose someone or something for special attention Rosa was singled out by the teacher because her art project was so creative. I don't know why they singled it out, but my report was severely criticized at the meeting.

Also, every last one; every single one. Every individual in a group, as in Each and every student must register by tomorrow, or I've graded every last one of the exams, or Every single one of his answers was wrong. All of these phrases are generally used for emphasis. The first, although seemingly redundant, has replaced all and every, first recorded in 1502. The first variant dates from the late 1800s, and both it and the second are widely used. Also see every tom, dick, and harry. Every mother's son (late 1500s) and every man Jack (mid-1800s) are earlier versions that refer only to males.

Also, in Indian file. Aligned one behind the other, as in We have to bike in single file here, or The children were told to march in Indian file. Both usages are associated with military formations; the first term was first recorded in 1670; the variant, alluding to the usual marching order of Native Americans, was first recorded in 1758.

Choose or distinguish from others, as in We singled him out from all the other applicants. This idiom was first recorded in 1629.