Words / B1

YS-uh-layt/ˈaɪsəleɪt/

To isolate is to keep someone or something separate from others: isolate patients; isolate a problem; feel isolated. Separate is more general; quarantine is specifically to stop disease spreading; exclude is to keep someone out of a group, often unfairly. Isolation is the noun: in isolation; social isolation. Isolated is the adjective: an isolated village (far from others). Isolate from + people / place. Do not write “isolate someone to home” — use isolate someone, or keep them in isolation.

Meaning

To keep someone or something separate from others.

Examples

• “The hospital isolated the patients with the infection.”
• “The village was isolated from the next town by snow.”
• “Engineers isolated the fault in the wiring.”

Good to know

isolate + person / problem. isolate from. Noun: isolation. Adjective: isolated. Disease control: quarantine. General: separate.

Near in meaning

separate

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