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
• ˈrecogˌnizer, noun
• ˈrecogˌnizably, adverb

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

We have also seen countries like Sweden recognize Palestine as a state.

From The Daily Beast

But few of us would recognize the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand, a German philosopher-turned-outspoken Nazi antagonist.

From The Daily Beast

I recognize my inability to truly understand these events in the same context or view these events through exactly the same prism.

From The Daily Beast

The trick is to be able to recognize the right one when it comes along.

From The Daily Beast

After all, our bodies are hard wired to recognize the difference between “me” and “not me.”

From The Daily Beast

I assure you, no matter how beautifully we play any piece, the minute Liszt plays it, you would scarcely recognize it!

From Project Gutenberg

I hope the French Government will recognize this dashing stroke of d'Amade's by something more solid than a thank you.

From Project Gutenberg

He spoke Urdu exceedingly well, and it was difficult in the gloom to recognize him as a European.

From Project Gutenberg

In estivo-autumnal malaria the gametes take distinctive ovoid and crescentic forms, and are not difficult to recognize.

From Project Gutenberg

The narrow individualism of the nineteenth century refused to recognize the social duty of supporting somebody else's grandmother.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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