recognize

[ rek-uhg-nahyz ]

/ ˈrɛk əgˌnaɪz /

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See synonyms for: recognize / recognized / recognizes / recognizing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), rec·og·nized, rec·og·niz·ing.

to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.: He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.

to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics: I recognized him from the description. They recognized him as a fraud.

to perceive as existing or true; realize: to be the first to recognize a fact.

to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time: The Speaker recognized the congressman from Maine.

to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit: The United States promptly recognized Israel.

to acknowledge or accept formally a specified factual or legal situation: to recognize a successful revolutionary regime as the de facto government of the country.

to acknowledge or treat as valid: to recognize a claim.

to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.

to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.

Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.

Biochemistry, Immunology. to bind with, cleave, or otherwise react to (another substance) as a result of fitting its molecular shape or a portion of its shape.

OTHER WORDS FOR recognize

3 acknowledge, appreciate, understand, grant, concede.

See synonyms for recognize on Thesaurus.com

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Also especially British, rec·og·nise .

Origin of recognize

1425–75; recogn(ition) + -ize; replacing late Middle English racunnysen, recognisen<Old French reconuiss-, stem of reconuistre<Latin recognōscere, equivalent to re-re- + cognōscere to know¹; see cognition

OTHER WORDS FROM recognize

rec·og·niz·a·ble

[rek-uhg-nahy-zuh-buhl, rek-uhg-nahy-], /ˈrɛk əgˌnaɪ zə bəl, ˌrɛk əgˈnaɪ-/, adjectiverec·og·niz·a·bil·i·ty, nounrec·og·niz·a·bly, adverbrec·og·niz·er, noun

non·rec·og·nized, adjectivepre·rec·og·nize, verb (used with object), pre·rec·og·nized, pre·rec·og·niz·ing.qua·si-rec·og·nized, adjectiveun·rec·og·niz·a·ble, adjectiveun·rec·og·niz·a·bly, adverbun·rec·og·nized, adjectiveun·rec·og·niz·ing, adjectivewell-rec·og·nized, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use recognize in a sentence

Di was delighted when she was served in the bar without being recognised.
Princess Diana's Night Out With Freddie Mercury in a Gay Bar|Tom Sykes|April 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
TE Lawrence, for example, finally recognised “that I could not sincerely take on the Arab skin,” and the same is true of Paddy.
Goodbye to My Hero|William Dalrymple|June 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
He hardly recognised himself, for, the foundations being shaken, all that was built upon them trembled too.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
Mr. Agnew saw the picture, recognised its merit, and wrote a cheque for the full amount asked.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various

His exceptional ability was soon recognised and his promotion was rapid.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Once on active service it was not long before his great qualities made themselves recognised.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
But though the Emperor recognised that he was no longer the Ney of former days, he still retained him in his command.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison

British Dictionary definitions for recognize

recognize

recognise

/ (ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to perceive (a person, creature, or thing) to be the same as or belong to the same class as something previously seen or known; know again

to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc)to recognize necessity

to give formal acknowledgment of the status or legality of (a government, an accredited representative, etc)

mainly US and Canadian to grant (a person) the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc

to give a token of thanks for (a service rendered, etc)

to make formal acknowledgment of (a claim, etc)

to show approval or appreciation of (something good or pleasing)

to acknowledge or greet (a person), as when meeting by chance

(intr) mainly US to enter into a recognizance

Derived forms of recognize

recognizable or recognisable, adjectiverecognizability or recognisability, nounrecognizably or recognisably, adverbrecognizer or recogniser, noun

Word Origin for recognize

C15: from Latin recognoscere to know again, from re- + cognoscere to know, ascertain

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

recognize

OTHER WORDS FOR recognize

Origin of recognize

OTHER WORDS FROM recognize

Words related to recognize

How to use recognize in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for recognize

recognise

Derived forms of recognize

Word Origin for recognize