- past tense form of distinguish.
- past participle of distinguish.
distinguished
Americanadjective
-
made conspicuous by excellence; noted; eminent; famous.
a distinguished scholar.
- Synonyms:
- illustrious, renowned
-
having an air of distinction, dignity, or eminence.
a distinguished old gentleman.
adjective
-
noble or dignified in appearance or behaviour
-
eminent; famous; celebrated
Synonym Usage
See famous.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of distinguished
First recorded in 1700–10; distinguish + -ed 2
Explanation
Being distinguished is a good thing: it implies good behavior, sharp dress, and an excellent reputation. Distinguished people are respected. When we say someone is distinguished, we're expressing respect for them. Usually, someone distinguished is older: distinguished people are wise, accomplished, and professional-looking — and usually have an impressive reputation to match. A teenager can't really be distinguished. They're too young to look the part, and they haven't done enough to earn the title. We admire people who are distinguished.
Vocabulary lists containing distinguished
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
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And Then There Were None
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"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 14–18
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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.
To explain the problem, Blake Temple, the study's corresponding author and a distinguished professor emeritus of mathematics at UC Davis, offered a simple comparison: a pencil balanced vertically on its tip.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
The interiors are distinguished by polished marble flooring featuring dramatic gold and gray veining, bringing a distinctive design element to the contemporary residence.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
It soon distinguished itself as a top-of-line competitor in aircraft aerobatics because of its impressive ability to execute daring rolls, spins, loops and dives.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
They distinguished themselves by bringing a cholera epidemic in a temporary prison at the paediatric hospital under control and were subsequently taken to Saudi Hospital.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
Even in those early postwar years, Harvey distinguished himself with "an excellent knowledge of Russian espionage and Communist activities," according to a former colleague.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
