identify

[ahy-den-tuh-fahy, ih-den-]

verb (used with object)

identified, identifying 

1. to recognize or establish as being a particular person or thing; verify the identity of.

   to identify handwriting; to identify the bearer of a check.

   Synonyms: determine, know, place, distinguish

2. to serve as a means of identification for.

   His gruff voice quickly identified him.

3. to make, represent to be, or regard or treat as the same or identical.

   They identified Jones with the progress of the company.

4. to associate in name, feeling, interest, action, etc. (usually followed bywith ).

   He preferred not to identify himself with that group.

5. Biology.,  to determine to what group (a given specimen) belongs.

6. Psychology.,  to associate (one or oneself ) with another person or a group of persons by identification.

verb (used without object)

identified, identifying 

1. to associate oneself in feeling, interest, action, etc., with a specified group or belief system (usually followed by as orwith ).

   He identifies as bisexual. She identifies with feminism. My family identifies Hispanic.

2. to experience psychological identification.

   The audience identified with the play's characters.

identify

/ aɪˈdɛntɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to prove or recognize as being a certain person or thing; determine the identity of

2. to consider as the same or equivalent

3. to consider (oneself) as similar to another

4. to determine the taxonomic classification of (a plant or animal)

5. psychol to engage in identification

Other Word Forms

• identifiable adjective
• identifiability noun
• identifiableness noun
• identifier noun
• overidentify verb
• preidentify verb (used with object)
• reidentify verb (used with object)
• unidentifiable adjective
• unidentifiably adverb
• unidentified adjective
• unidentifying adjective
• well-identified adjective
• identifiably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of identify¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin identificāre, equivalent to identi(tās) identity + -ficāre -fy

Example Sentences

Still, McGowan acknowledged there was room for more improvement — and said the recent report identified the solution: bolstering his budget and staff.

From Los Angeles Times

The new California screening is intended to identify children with reading difficulties who could benefit from additional help.

From Los Angeles Times

A spokesperson for LanguageLine Solutions said the company was pleased to engage with the association to identify the challenges they have faced.

From BBC

The BBC identified one company called Bespoke Strategy Solutions based in Dubai but the founder of this company told us she had nothing to do with Mr King and had no links to the UK.

From BBC

Stephen's father told the BBC that Norris should now have to identify the other killers if he was to be considered for release.

From BBC

Related Words

• analyze 
• classify 
• describe 
• determine 
• diagnose 
• establish 
• find 
• name 
• pinpoint 
• select 
• single out 
• spot