noun
Common
singles
Singles (noun) means a match played between two individual opponents rather than teams, as in tennis. Example: “The men's singles final went to five sets and lasted nearly four hours.”
noun
1
A match played between two individual opponents rather than teams, as in tennis.
"The men's singles final went to five sets and lasted nearly four hours."
"Do you prefer playing singles or doubles when you go to the tennis club?"
"She reached the semi-final in women's singles."
adj
1
Relating to people who are not married or in a relationship.
"The community centre runs a singles night on the first Friday of every month."
"Many singles holidays include group meals and trips to local sights."
"The app is aimed at singles looking to meet new people."
How to use singles
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither one-on-one matches in sports, or people who are unattached romantically.
Common pairings
singles match
singles bar
singles night
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The men's _____ final went to five sets and lasted nearly four hours.
Synonyms
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one-on-one
Rhymes for singles
See all rhymes for singles →Frequently asked questions
What does “singles” mean?
The word “singles” means a match played between two individual opponents rather than teams, as in tennis. In plain terms, either one-on-one matches in sports, or people who are unattached romantically.
How do you use “singles” in a sentence?
Here is “singles” used in a sentence: “She reached the semi-final in women's singles.”
What part of speech is “singles”?
Depending on how it is used, “singles” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “singles” a common word?
“Singles” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “singles” have?
“Singles” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a match played between two individual opponents rather than teams, as in tennis.
What is the difference between singles and doubles?
In racket sports like tennis and badminton, singles is played one against one — a single player on each side of the net. Doubles is played two against two, with partners sharing a side. The court markings also differ: doubles uses a wider court, while singles uses the narrower inner lines.
Which sports have singles matches?
Singles is most associated with tennis, but it features across many one-on-one racket and paddle sports, including badminton, squash, table tennis, and pickleball. The term marks any contest between two individual opponents rather than teams. Some other individual sports borrow the idea, but it is chiefly a racket-sport term.
How many players are in a singles match?
Just two — one individual competing against another, with no teammates on court. That is what defines singles: a straight contest between two people. It contrasts with doubles, which has four players in two pairs. Because there is no partner to share the court, singles tends to demand more stamina and all-round movement.
