distinguish

[ dih-sting-gwish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to mark off as different (often followed by from or by ):

   He was distinguished from the other boys by his height.

2. to recognize as distinct or different; recognize the salient or individual features or characteristics of:

   It is hard to distinguish her from her twin sister.

   Antonyms: confuse

3. to perceive clearly by sight or other sense; discern; recognize:

   He could not distinguish many of the words.

4. to set apart as different; be a distinctive characteristic of; characterize:

   It is his Italian accent that distinguishes him.

5. to make prominent, conspicuous, or eminent:

   to distinguish oneself in battle.

6. to divide into classes; classify:

   Let us distinguish the various types of metaphor.

7. Archaic. to single out for or honor with special attention.

verb (used without object)

1. to indicate or show a difference (usually followed by between ).
2. to recognize or note differences; discriminate.

distinguish

/ dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

1. whenintr, foll by between or among to make, show, or recognize a difference or differences (between or among); differentiate (between)
2. to be a distinctive feature of; characterize
3. to make out; perceive
4. to mark for a special honour or title
5. to make (oneself) noteworthy

   he distinguished himself by his cowardice

6. to classify; categorize

   we distinguished three species

Derived Forms

• disˈtinguishably, adverb
• disˈtinguishing, adjective
• disˈtinguishingly, adverb
• disˈtinguishable, adjective
• disˈtinguisher, noun

Other Words From

• dis·tin·guish·a·ble adjective
• dis·tin·guish·er noun
• dis·tin·guish·ment noun
• in·ter·dis·tin·guish verb (used with object)
• pre·dis·tin·guish verb (used with object)
• re·dis·tin·guish verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of distinguish¹

First recorded in 1555–65; extension, by -ish ², of Middle English disting(u)en (from Anglo-French, Middle French distinguer ), from Latin distinguere; distinct

Word History and Origins

Origin of distinguish¹

C16: from Latin distinguere to separate, discriminate

Synonym Study

Distinguish, differentiate, discriminate suggest an attempt to analyze characteristic features or qualities of things. To distinguish is to recognize the characteristic features belonging to a thing: to distinguish a light cruiser from a heavy cruiser. To discriminate is to perceive the particular, nice, or exact differences between things, to determine wherein these differences consist, and to estimate their significance: to discriminate prejudiced from unprejudiced testimony. To differentiate is to point out exactly and in detail the differences between (usually) two things: The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that it is hard to differentiate one from another.

Example Sentences

Kolankiewicz told me he and Beck hoped to resurface issues of overpopulation and distinguish the fight against mass immigration from prejudice against immigrants.

From Salon

The general consensus among music lawyers and songwriters is that the verdict failed to distinguish between influence and theft.

From BBC

I was nervous about that initially, but it ended up being monumentally helpful because you get to distinguish the factors that come together in the end a little bit more by depicting them chronologically.

From Los Angeles Times

Her failure to clearly distinguish herself from the president's policies and establish herself as a harbinger of change, all but set up Trump's likely sweep of the national popular vote.

From Salon

He cited the laws of distinction, which requires warring parties to distinguish between combatants and civilians, proportionality, which prohibits attacks where harm to civilians outweighs military advantage, and precautions in attacks.

From BBC

Related Words

• analyze
• categorize
• characterize
• determine
• differentiate
• discriminate
• divide
• figure out
• identify
• know
• qualify
• recognize
• separate