self-isolate
verb
self-iso·late
ˌself-ˈī-sə-ˌlāt 
also -ˈi-
self-isolated; self-isolating; self-isolates
: to isolate or separate oneself or itself from others
Feelings of shame and a tendency to self-isolate in order to hide the behaviors can result in loss of social support.—
Alex Gitterman
Alex GittermanMy husband and I are both 85 and have heart problems, so even before the new orders we were self-isolating to avoid getting or passing on coronavirus.—Louise Cate
Louise CateGovernment officials said that public gatherings must be restricted to two people. … Those over 70 should self-isolate themselves.—Lidia Kelly
Lidia Kellyself-isolated people/countries
Examples of self-isolate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Described as healthy, they were assessed for 72 hours and then asked to self-isolate at home for 42 days.
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
16 May 2026
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said that one person is being treated after testing positive and that the person’s wife is self-isolating as a precaution.
—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
11 May 2026
Robin May, a British health official, told The Guardian the passengers who will soon return home may be asked to self-isolate, most likely at home, for 45 days.
—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
The three individuals show no symptoms of infection and are self-isolating and being monitored.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
7 May 2026
British health officials say two people who were passengers aboard the ship but flew home midway through the journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms.
—
ABC News,
7 May 2026
Two Singaporean residents – both men in their 60s – are self-isolating and being tested for hantavirus, the country’s Communicable Diseases Agency said Thursday.
—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
The man's wife, who was with him on the cruise, had not shown any symptoms, but was self-isolating as a precaution, the Swiss public health agency said.
—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
British health officials say two people who were passengers aboard the ship but flew home midway through the journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms of illness.
—
Gerald Imray,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
16 May 2026
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health said that one person is being treated after testing positive and that the person’s wife is self-isolating as a precaution.
—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
11 May 2026
Robin May, a British health official, told The Guardian the passengers who will soon return home may be asked to self-isolate, most likely at home, for 45 days.
—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
The three individuals show no symptoms of infection and are self-isolating and being monitored.
—
Chad De Guzman,
Time,
7 May 2026
British health officials say two people who were passengers aboard the ship but flew home midway through the journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms.
—
ABC News,
7 May 2026
Two Singaporean residents – both men in their 60s – are self-isolating and being tested for hantavirus, the country’s Communicable Diseases Agency said Thursday.
—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
The man's wife, who was with him on the cruise, had not shown any symptoms, but was self-isolating as a precaution, the Swiss public health agency said.
—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
British health officials say two people who were passengers aboard the ship but flew home midway through the journey are self-isolating but do not have symptoms of illness.
—
Gerald Imray,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-isolate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-isolate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
