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Synonyms

recognize

American

[rek-uhg-nahyz] / ˈrɛk əgˌnaɪz /

especially British, recognise

verb (used with object)

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

He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.
to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics.

I recognized him from the description.
They recognized him as a fraud.
to perceive as existing or true; realize.

to be the first to recognize a fact.

Synonyms:

concede, grant, understand, appreciate, acknowledge
to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time.

The Speaker recognized the congressman from Maine.
to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit.

The United States promptly recognized Israel.
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.
to acknowledge or treat as valid.

to recognize a claim.
to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.
to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.
Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.
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 British

/ ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz /

verb

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
to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc)

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of recognize

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. ) ”; see cognition ( def. )

Explanation

When, at a meeting, you wave your hand wildly, you want to be recognized. When the chairperson finally says, “I recognize the man who is about to fall out of his seat,” don't forget what you wanted to say. The verb recognize comes from the Latin root words re (again) and cognoscere (to know) – literally “to know again” or “to identify.” If your own identical twin doesn't recognize you, you might be wearing too much makeup. Recognize can also mean “to acknowledge” or “to appreciate.” When you recognize the donors for their generous contributions to your fundraising event, your parents say, “You're welcome.”

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Vocabulary lists containing recognize

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

recognize recognizes recognized recognizing

In addition, Texans recognize the flaws that led Hinojosa to characterize the criminal justice system as “broken”; 59 percent say they believe that Texas has executed “the wrongly convicted.”

From Slate ● Nov. 11, 2026

“We recognize that Canadians expect accountability for public funding,” the spokeswoman said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026

Scientists increasingly recognize that cancer-related cognitive impairment can develop through several overlapping processes.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026

These findings raise the possibility that testosterone measurements could help doctors recognize men who may face greater health risks in the future.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 8, 2026

I look at her cell, and yes, there are some names I recognize, because they have some ego-driven usernames that they mix in with the instrument they play.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

The Paley Honors Award recognizes landmark contributions to and enduring impact on the media industry, and its gala will feature a special tribute celebrating each honoree’s distinguished career and creative legacy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

At the same time, “Black Zombie” recognizes this subgenre’s cultural resilience, arguing that recognizing the zombie’s true roots broadens its narrative possibilities.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

"This decision recognizes more than two years of concrete, rigorous and coordinated work by all of the State’s authorities and departments," the head of Monaco's government, Christophe Mirmand, said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

Notably, the ranking recognizes the value of cross-pollination in its “industry expertise” indicator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

He doesn’t know what I’m thinking, but I know he recognizes the emotion on my face.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

“The court recognized that confidential sources are the ‘lifeblood’ of investigative reporting and that dragnet demands from technology companies to reveal those sources violate the law.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2026

He said he recognized the potential of AI after he was able to vibe-code his own sports betting app with just three hourlong sessions with a tutor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026

Six Unknown Named Agents, the Supreme Court recognized that the Constitution inherently empowers people to sue federal agents who violate the rights that the Constitution protects.

From Slate ● Nov. 10, 2026

“Rage for these women, rage for me and even more rage for the entire generation of women who deserve to have their potential recognized and elevated.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

He recognized how tired her voice sounded, and suddenly he felt terrible.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Good journalism isn’t just about being there first; it’s also about recognizing an important story and identifying something that matters to our readers.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026

Evidently, the cultural normalization of mental illness hasn’t eliminated the enormous gap between experiencing depression and recognizing it as a condition that warrants treatment.

From Slate ● Nov. 11, 2026

The disease damages the macula, the retinal region responsible for detailed central vision, and can severely interfere with reading, driving, and recognizing faces.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

At the same time, “Black Zombie” recognizes this subgenre’s cultural resilience, arguing that recognizing the zombie’s true roots broadens its narrative possibilities.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

He heard the familiar puttering of an old propeller, recognizing for an instant the Universal logo above him, the giant globe being encircled by a small airplane.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023