distinguish

[dih-sting-gwish]

verb (used with object)

1. to mark off as different (often followed by from orby ).

   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 bybetween ).

2. to recognize or note differences; discriminate.

distinguish

/ dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ /

verb

1. 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

Other Word Forms

• distinguishable adjective
• distinguisher noun
• distinguishment noun
• interdistinguish verb (used with object)
• predistinguish verb (used with object)
• redistinguish verb
• distinguishably adverb
• distinguishing adjective
• distinguishingly adverb

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

Though it does not distinguish between civilians and fighters, its figures are seen as reliable.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The arias and duets, which are almost always slowly paced and formless, lack that visceral, theatrical punch and do not musically distinguish one character from another.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Immergut, in her Saturday decision, distinguished the conditions in Portland from the more volatile situation in Los Angeles in June.

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That makes it hard to distinguish rule-breakers from those out sick or traveling for work, so many HR departments dig deeper only if workers miss at least half of their required days.

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About the author: Christopher Tang is a distinguished research professor at UCLA.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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