differentiate

[dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt]

verb (used with object)

differentiated, differentiating 

1. to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.

2. to change; alter.

3. to perceive the difference in or between.

   Synonyms: separate

4. to make different by modification, as a biological species.

5. Mathematics.,  to obtain the differential or the derivative of.

verb (used without object)

differentiated, differentiating 

1. to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.

2. to make a distinction.

3. Biology.,  (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

differentiate

/ ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to serve to distinguish between

2. to perceive, show, or make a difference (in or between); discriminate

3. (intr) to become dissimilar or distinct

4. maths to perform a differentiation on (a quantity, expression, etc)

5. (intr) (of unspecialized cells, etc) to change during development to more specialized forms

Other Word Forms

• differentiation noun
• interdifferentiate verb (used with object)
• redifferentiate verb
• self-differentiating adjective
• undifferentiated adjective
• differentiator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of differentiate¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Medieval Latin differentiātus distinguished (past participle of differentiāre ), equivalent to Latin different(ia) difference + -ātus -ate ¹

Synonym Study

See distinguish.

Example Sentences

“AI isn’t going away, and I think it’s about figuring out how you can use it to differentiate yourself,” Jeanine says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The partnership could drive a cluster of new economy companies to the city-state and help differentiate Singapore from its peer Hong Kong, he adds.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Newsom previously said it was unacceptable for “secret police” to grab people off the streets, and that the new laws were needed to help the public differentiate between imposters and legitimate federal law officers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Winter Olympic Federations said in a statement earlier this week it was "fully committed" to "innovation, universality, and strengthening the special and clearly differentiated appeal" of the Olympic Winter Games.

Read more on BBC

Verizon’s network isn’t as differentiated as it used to be, he added.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adapt 
• alter 
• diversify 
• modify 
• transform 
• vary