isolate

isolate — verb

IPA/ˈaɪsəleɪt/
KK[ˈaɪsəlˌet]IPA/ˈaɪsəleɪt/
  • isolatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • isolateshe / she / it
  • isolatedpast simple
  • isolating-ing form

1. to pull one thing or one part away from the rest so you can handle it on its own

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to pull one thing or one part away from the rest so you can handle it on its own

Example

The mechanic isolated the loose wire before repairing the kitchen light.

isolate + object before repair

Elena isolated the bad apples from the box before the market opened.

Common collocations
  • isolate a wire
  • isolate the problem
  • isolate one part
  • isolate from the rest
Synonyms
  • separate

    the broad everyday verb for putting things apart

  • detach

    best when something is physically connected and then pulled away

  • extract

    stresses taking something out, often for a purpose

Antonyms
  • combine

    bring parts together into one whole

  • mix

    put different things together instead of keeping them apart

Grammar Patterns

isolate + noun + from + noun

isolate + one part of + noun

Usage Note

Often follows the pattern 'isolate X from Y'. It can refer to a physical object, one part of a recording, or one part of a larger problem that needs separate attention.

Common Mistakes

The guard isolated the patient from a side room.
The guard isolated the patient in a side room.
Use 'in' for the place where someone is kept, and 'from' for what they are kept apart from.

2. to place someone or an animal elsewhere so contact with the rest is stopped

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to place someone or an animal elsewhere so contact with the rest is stopped

Example

The nurse isolated the patient in a side room after the fever returned.

isolate + patient in a room

Farmers isolated the new calf for a week before it joined the herd.

Common collocations
  • isolate the patient
  • isolate a calf
  • isolate in a side room
  • isolate from other animals
Synonyms
  • quarantine

    more specific; usually for disease risk

  • separate

    more general and less medical

  • seclude

    more formal; often stresses privacy or being shut away

Antonyms
  • release

    allow someone or something to return to normal contact

Grammar Patterns

isolate + person/animal + in + place

isolate + person/animal + from + others

Usage Note

Often used for illness, safety, or animal care. The point is preventing contact, not simply making the person or animal feel lonely.

Common Mistakes

The doctor isolated the patient with the other visitors.
The doctor isolated the patient from the other visitors.
This sense needs separation away from other people, not placement together with them.

3. to make someone, a group, or even a country lose normal contact or support from

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to make someone, a group, or even a country lose normal contact or support from others

Example

The new rules isolated small schools from the rest of the funding system.

isolate a group from wider support

Repeated jokes about his accent isolated Amir from the class.

Common collocations
  • isolate a country
  • isolate a minority group
  • isolate from support
  • politically isolate
Synonyms
  • ostracize

    stronger; suggests pushing a person out of a group on purpose

  • marginalize

    focuses on pushing someone to the edge of influence

  • alienate

    stresses making people feel unfriendly or distant

Antonyms
  • include

    make someone part of the group

  • integrate

    bring someone or something fully into a larger whole

Grammar Patterns

isolate + person/group/country + from + noun

isolate + reflexive pronoun

Usage Note

Usually describes social, political, or emotional separation rather than moving someone to a room. It is common with groups, countries, and organizations.

Common Mistakes

The policy isolated the country with its allies.
The policy isolated the country from its allies.
Use 'from' to show the people or groups that are cut off.

4. to make one muscle, one joint, or one small muscle group work by itself instead

4.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to make one muscle, one joint, or one small muscle group work by itself instead of several together

Example

This machine isolates your back muscles without tiring your legs.

isolate + muscle group

The coach taught Mei a move that isolates the shoulder joint.

Common collocations
  • isolate the biceps
  • isolate the shoulder joint
  • isolate one muscle
  • isolate during rehab
Synonyms
  • target

    broader fitness verb for focusing work on a body part

  • work

    more general and less technical than 'isolate'

Grammar Patterns

isolate + muscle/joint

exercise to isolate + body part

Usage Note

Common in gym and physical-therapy contexts. It contrasts with compound exercises that make several muscles work together at the same time.

5. to take one substance, cell, or chemical out of a sample for clean testing or us

5.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to take one substance, cell, or chemical out of a sample for clean testing or use

Example

The lab isolated the virus from a blood sample within two days.

isolate + virus from sample

Researchers isolated a protein from seaweed for further testing.

Common collocations
  • isolate a virus
  • isolate a compound
  • isolate from a sample
  • isolate pure cells
Synonyms
  • extract

    focuses on taking something out from a larger source

  • purify

    stresses making the final material cleaner

  • separate

    broader verb that does not always suggest scientific purity

Antonyms
  • contaminate

    make a sample impure by adding unwanted material

Grammar Patterns

isolate + substance/cell + from + sample

isolate + compound

Usage Note

Common in laboratory and science writing. It usually suggests taking something out of a sample so it can be examined in a cleaner or purer state.

isolate — noun

IPA/ˈaɪ.sə.lət/
KK[ˈaɪsəlˌet]IPA/ˈaɪ.sə.lət/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Isolate' often overlaps with 'separate', but it usually suggests pulling one thing away from a larger whole so it can be handled on its own. 'Separate' is broader and works for almost any kind of division. 'Detach' is best when something is physically joined and then removed, such as a handle or a label. 'Extract' stresses taking something out for a purpose, especially in science, medicine, or data work. 'Single out' is different again: it means choosing one person or thing from a group for special attention, not necessarily removing it physically. If you isolate a faulty wire, a sound in a recording, or the main cause of a problem, you are separating one part so you can deal with it clearly.

separate ↗detach ↗extract ↗single out ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • isolate from the rest
  • isolate from others

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

The word comes from Italian 'isolare', built on 'isola' meaning 'island', from Latin 'insula'. The original image was of turning something into an island by cutting it off from what surrounds it. English later took over that idea and used 'isolate' for keeping people, objects, and even scientific material apart from the rest.

First known use

1799

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective