Word
isolating
Phoneticsiso·lat·ing
US/ˈaɪsəˌɫeɪtɪŋ/
UK/ˈaɪsəlˌeɪtɪŋ/
Definition
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.
Examples
“Working from home can be very isolating if you live alone.”
“The hospital's strict visitor policy, while necessary for safety, proved deeply isolating for the elderly patients.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'feel', 'become', or 'be'.
Pitfall
I feel very isolatedly
I feel very isolated
Learners confuse the adjective 'isolating' (which describes the situation) with 'isolated' (which describes the person's feeling).
Real-World Examples
“For me, my main issue is binge eating, which is a very private and isolating habit.” “Photography is a solitary practice and making work can be so isolating - I was scared to show my work, scared of being rejected or misunderstood, but I wanted to tell this story.” “This means that relief workers are more reliant on traditional methods like tracing contacts and isolating patients to try to control its spread.” Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/isolating