ENGLISH
REFERENCE

isolating

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈaɪsəˌɫeɪtɪŋ// UK //ˈaɪsəlˌeɪtɪŋ// iso·lat·ing

adj. making you feel alone or separated from other people. You use this to describe a situation or a place that keeps you away from friends and family.

adj. causing a person or group to feel detached or socially disconnected from others. Often describes environments, medical conditions, or social circumstances that prevent interaction.


SIMPLE

Working from home can be very isolating if you live alone.

CONTEXTUAL

The hospital's strict visitor policy, while necessary for safety, proved deeply isolating for the elderly patients.

COMPLEX

Sociologists argue that while digital platforms promise connection, the lack of physical presence can create an isolating experience that diminishes the quality of human relationships.

Synonyms
Usage

Often follows a linking verb like 'feel', 'become', or 'be'.

Pitfall

I feel very isolatedlyI feel very isolatedLearners confuse the adjective 'isolating' (which describes the situation) with 'isolated' (which describes the person's feeling).

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