particular
particular — adjective
1. used to name one exact person, thing, or kind rather than a different possible o
used to name one exact person, thing, or kind rather than a different possible one.
Please use that particular door, not the one beside the kitchen.
particular + noun for one exact item
Nina remembers the particular song her father sang on Sundays.
The doctor asked about one particular pain in Daniel's left shoulder.
We are looking for a particular kind of rice for dumplings.
particular kind of + noun
Only one particular student knew why the fire alarm rang.
- a particular person
- a particular day
- a particular kind of
- one particular reason
Grammar Patterns
particular + noun
one/a particular + noun
Usage Note
Usually comes before a noun. Distinguish from adjective sense 2: a particular door is one exact door, but particular attention means extra attention, not simply identified attention.
Common Mistakes
2. greater than usual in importance, strength, or care.
greater than usual in importance, strength, or care.
The school gives particular attention to children who are learning slowly.
particular attention to [person/group]
Marcus took particular care when carrying his grandmother's glass bowl.
collocation: particular care
This map is of particular value during winter storms.
of particular + value/importance
The guide showed particular kindness to the lost little boy.
Our coach has a particular interest in young goalkeepers.
- particular attention
- particular care
- particular interest
- of particular importance
- of particular concern
Grammar Patterns
particular + attention/care/interest
of particular + importance/value/concern
Usage Note
Common with abstract nouns such as attention, care, interest, concern, and importance. Distinguish from sense 1: a particular door is one identified door, but particular care means more care than usual.
Common Mistakes
3. hard to satisfy because you want things done in a very exact way and notice smal
hard to satisfy because you want things done in a very exact way and notice small details.
Eva is particular about the fruit she buys for jam.
be particular about + noun
My grandfather is particular about how his tea is made.
be particular about + how-clause
The chef became particular about every knife in the kitchen.
Rosa is particular when she chooses shoes for work.
Our art teacher is particular about clean lines and sharp corners.
- particular about food
- particular about clothes
- particular about details
- particular about how something is done
- picky
informal and often slightly negative
- fussy
suggests worrying over small things
- selective
less negative; often used when choices are made carefully
- meticulous
stresses careful attention to detail, often in work
- easy-going
not strict or demanding about small matters
- undemanding
easy to satisfy
Grammar Patterns
be particular about + noun
be particular about + how-clause
Usage Note
Usually follows be and is most often followed by about. Distinguish from sense 1: being particular about food describes a demanding person, not one exact food.
Common Mistakes
in particular
idiomUsed to emphasize one specific thing or person among others.
Maya enjoys classical music, and she loves Beethoven in particular.
Is there any book in particular you want me to bring?
Belonging only to a specific person, place, or thing.
This style of pottery is particular to the village of Santa Fe.
The accent is particular to people from that region.
particular — noun
1. one piece of information or one detail, especially in a form, record, or officia
one piece of information or one detail, especially in a form, record, or official report.
Please check the travel particulars before you book the train.
often plural: particulars for formal details
The police wrote down the driver's particulars after the crash.
Hospital staff asked for Marcus's insurance particulars at the desk.
The form is missing two particulars about your previous address.
The email listed all the meeting particulars, including room and time.
- personal particulars
- full particulars
- give particulars
- particulars of the accident
- ask for particulars
- detail
the most general everyday word
- information
broader; not limited to separate listed items
- specification
more technical; common for products, equipment, or requirements
Grammar Patterns
give particulars
particulars of + event
ask for particulars
Usage Note
Often plural in forms, reports, and travel or police contexts. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which is about a single case or example rather than recorded information.
Common Mistakes
2. a single case, fact, or example looked at by itself instead of as part of a gene
a single case, fact, or example looked at by itself instead of as part of a general idea.
Good history teaching starts with the particular, like one family's letters.
the particular contrasted with the general
The judge moved from the general rule to the particular in this case.
In science class, Ms. Lee began with the particular, not big theories.
The book explains the general idea, then returns to the particular.
The speech sounded vague because it stayed in the general, not the particular.
contrast: the general and the particular
- the particular and the general
- move from the general to the particular
- begin with the particular
Grammar Patterns
the particular
the particular and the general
Usage Note
Usually appears as the particular in formal writing, often beside the general. Distinguish from noun sense 1, which means details or pieces of information.
Word family
- particularlyadverbB1
- particularitynounC2
- particularizeverbC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
For adjective sense 1, particular points to one exact person or thing among others. Specific is the nearest everyday synonym and often sounds more direct in instructions or requests. Certain can also point to one example, but it is often used when the speaker does not name it fully: a certain teacher, a certain day. Special is different because it stresses value or importance, not identity, so it fits sense 2 more often than sense 1. Exact is stronger than particular when precision matters, especially with numbers, sizes, or details. Compare: We need a particular file from the blue folder means one chosen file; We need the exact file number asks for full precision.
Common collocations
Phrases
- in particular
- no particular reason
- nothing in particular
Etymology
Particular came into English through Old French from Latin particularis, a word built on the idea of a small part or separate piece. Because of that history, the word developed meanings connected with one exact item, fine detail, and single cases rather than broad general ideas.