isolated

Everyday

1. An isolated place is far away from other places, towns or people. tree →
2. An isolated person feels alone or has little contact with others. tree →
3. An isolated event happens only once or rarely, not as part of a pattern. tree →
4. Isolated means kept apart from others, for example to stop an illness spreading. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons isolated islands, farms and villages are remote, like the island of Tristan da Cunha or outback stations in Australia. In health lessons sick people may be isolated. In news «an isolated incident» means it happened only once. In science an isolated substance has been separated out. Phrases: «isolated village», «feel isolated», «an isolated case», «isolated from».

Examples

• The farm is very isolated, an hour from the nearest shop. tree →
• After moving to a new town she felt isolated. tree →
• Patients with the illness were isolated in a special ward. tree →
• It was an isolated shower; the rest of the day was sunny. tree →
• The island was isolated by the storm, with no boats for a week. tree →
• Scientists isolated the chemical from the plant. tree →
• If a friend seems isolated, ask them to join in. tree →
• My rays could only light up isolated notes, so the greater part of what was written there will ever remain dark to me. tree →

Note

Past form of «isolate»; the noun is «isolation». Isolated is different from «alone»: you can be isolated in a crowd if nobody talks to you. Feeling isolated is common and it helps to tell a trusted adult.