Showing results for recognize. Search instead for Recognis.

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.”

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing recognize

Vocabulary of the Common Core

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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

It’s one thing to recognize a loyal customer.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

Within it, the foveola plays an especially important role in detailed central vision, which allows people to read, recognize faces, and distinguish fine details.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

When opposing nations recognize their vulnerability to widespread economic and institutional disruption, the incentives to negotiate could become more powerful than the incentives to fight.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

I recognize their dramatic usefulness — cat-and-mouse, stop-them-before-they-kill-again, detective-meets-match — but as a class I find them tedious.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

"Sancho, you know nothing of knighthood! It may not look like a helmet to you, but to me...oh, I recognize it...the enchanted helmet I shall claim for myself."

From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios

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

Magazine’s annual Innovators issue, which recognizes groundbreaking talents from a range of disciplines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Activated T cells carry a surface receptor called CXCR3 that recognizes CXCL10, allowing the cells to follow its chemical signals.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Hooker implicitly recognizes that both types of evidence have to be considered in the light of the circumstances.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Just a few weeks ago, Talarico’s campaign met with local Muslim officials and community members in Dallas, where he emphasized a bill he filed that would include Muslim imams as legally recognized marriage officiants.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

The defensive wall shows that communities here were able to coordinate large construction projects and points to social transformations that are only very tentatively beginning to be recognized.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Now, Luna can’t seem to go anywhere in this neighborhood without being recognized.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

When Stewart joined the Trek universe, he was largely unknown to Americans – save for the eagle-eyed nerds who recognized him, perhaps, from John Boorman’s “Excalibur” or David Lynch’s “Dune.”

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

Other than Tom, Doc was the only other person in the photos he recognized.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

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

“It’s time to renew that compact while also recognizing the ecosystem needs to evolve,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026

The show credits every collaborator for each work, acknowledging the expertise and skill that goes into turning artists’ visions into reality, and recognizing that the papermill’s artisans are artists in their own right.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

“Investors are increasingly recognizing the enormous commercial potential of this convergence between AI and precision medicine,” Meng wrote.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

The Conclusion stands back and asks what the consequences are of recognizing the reality of the Scientific Revolution.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

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