recognize

[ rek-uhg-nahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, rec·og·nized, rec·og·niz·ing.

1. to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.:

   He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.

2. to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics:

   I recognized him from the description.

   They recognized him as a fraud.

3. to perceive as existing or true; realize:

   to be the first to recognize a fact.

   Synonyms: concede, grant, understand, appreciate, acknowledge

4. to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time:

   The Speaker recognized the congressman from Maine.

5. to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit:

   The United States promptly recognized Israel.

6. to acknowledge or accept formally a specified factual or legal situation:

   to recognize a successful revolutionary regime as the de facto government of the country.

7. to acknowledge or treat as valid:

   to recognize a claim.

8. to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.
9. to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.
10. Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.
11. Biochemistry, Immunology. to bind with, cleave, or otherwise react to (another substance) as a result of fitting its molecular shape or a portion of its shape.

recognize

/ ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to perceive (a person, creature, or thing) to be the same as or belong to the same class as something previously seen or known; know again
2. to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc)

   to recognize necessity

3. to give formal acknowledgment of the status or legality of (a government, an accredited representative, etc)
4. to grant (a person) the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc
5. to give a token of thanks for (a service rendered, etc)
6. to make formal acknowledgment of (a claim, etc)
7. to show approval or appreciation of (something good or pleasing)
8. to acknowledge or greet (a person), as when meeting by chance
9. intr to enter into a recognizance

Derived Forms

• ˈrecogˌnizable, adjective
• ˌrecogˌnizaˈbility, noun
• ˈrecogˌnizably, adverb
• ˈrecogˌnizer, noun

Other Words From

• rec·og·niz·a·ble [rek, -, uh, g-nahy-z, uh, -b, uh, l, rek-, uh, g-, nahy, -], adjective
• recog·niza·bili·ty noun
• recog·niza·bly adverb
• recog·nizer noun
• non·recog·nized adjective
• pre·recog·nize verb (used with object) prerecognized prerecognizing
• quasi-recog·nized adjective
• un·recog·niza·ble adjective
• un·recog·niza·bly adverb
• un·recog·nized adjective
• un·recog·nizing adjective
• well-recog·nized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recognize¹

First recorded in 1425–75; recogn(ition) ( def ) + -ize ( def ); replacing late Middle English racunnysen, recognisen, from Old French reconuiss-, stem of reconuistre, from Latin recognōscere, equivalent to re- re- ( def ) + cognōscere “to know ¹( def ) ”; cognition ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of recognize¹

C15: from Latin recognoscere to know again, from re- + cognoscere to know, ascertain

Example Sentences

“They wake up in the morning, they wanna compete. And the games count for the regular season. We all recognize how difficult the Western Conference is. And every game is gonna matter.”

From Los Angeles Times

On the new season of the PBS children’s series, debuting Aug. 14, fans of ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ will recognize the latest addition to the cast.

From Los Angeles Times

“I recognize that some of my constituents feel safer with more police around,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

One significant element of this failure is a reluctance to understand or recognize that today’s Republican Party is more of a front organization than a traditional political party.

From Salon

Our task is to recognize the imperfections, to accept that the rules are part of our journey together, that they don’t fundamentally negate that an election took place and somebody won it under the rules that existed at the time.

From Slate

Related Words

• admit
• agree
• allow
• appreciate
• grant
• honor
• make
• perceive
• realize
• respect
• sanction
• see