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distinguish

[ dih-sting-gwish ]
/ dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ /
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verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to indicate or show a difference (usually followed by between).
to recognize or note differences; discriminate.

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characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction.
carried on abroad, or with other countries.
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Origin of distinguish

1555–65; extension, by -ish2, of Middle English disting(u)en (<Anglo-French, Middle French distinguer ) <Latin distinguere; see distinct

synonym study for distinguish

2. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM distinguish

Words nearby distinguish

distinctive feature, distinctiveness ratio, distinctly, distingué, distinguée, distinguish, distinguished, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to distinguish

discriminate, divide, separate, recognize, characterize, qualify, identify, differentiate, determine, categorize, analyze, know, figure out, notice, detect, read, perceive, discover, see, admire

Example sentences from the Web for distinguish

British Dictionary definitions for distinguish

distinguish
/ (dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ) /

verb (mainly tr)

(when intr, foll by between or among) to make, show, or recognize a difference or differences (between or among); differentiate (between)
to be a distinctive feature of; characterize
to make out; perceive
to mark for a special honour or title
to make (oneself) noteworthyhe distinguished himself by his cowardice
to classify; categorizewe distinguished three species

Derived forms of distinguish

Word Origin for distinguish

C16: from Latin distinguere to separate, discriminate
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