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

An international team of researchers began by creating the first "fully phased" genome of the popular Fuji apple -- essentially a complete genetic blueprint that clearly distinguishes between genes inherited from each of the two parents.

From Science Daily

Bouchillon distinguishes between trait self-esteem, as the more constant and enduring form of self-esteem, and state self-esteem, which is transitory, like the boost someone might feel from a social media post being liked.

From Science Daily

The second "discriminator" network is then trained to distinguish between the real satellite imagery and the one synthesized by the first network.

From Science Daily

And by now, so many Americans cannot distinguish fact from fiction that legitimate politics can barely function.

From Salon

There are other markers including their tails, ears, size and weight which can also distinguish them from grey squirrels – the vastly dominant population - even if they are the same colour.

From BBC

Related Words

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