recognize
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.
Origin of recognize
1- Also especially British, rec·og·nise .
Other words for recognize
Other words from recognize
- rec·og·niz·a·ble [rek-uhg-nahy-zuh-buhl, rek-uhg-nahy-], /ˈrɛk əgˌnaɪ zə bəl, ˌrɛk əgˈnaɪ-/, adjective
- rec·og·niz·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- rec·og·niz·a·bly, adverb
- rec·og·niz·er, noun
- non·rec·og·nized, adjective
- pre·rec·og·nize, verb (used with object), pre·rec·og·nized, pre·rec·og·niz·ing.
- qua·si-rec·og·nized, adjective
- un·rec·og·niz·a·ble, adjective
- un·rec·og·niz·a·bly, adverb
- un·rec·og·nized, adjective
- un·rec·og·niz·ing, adjective
- well-rec·og·nized, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use recognize in a sentence
A few studies measuring antibodies — key proteins that recognize and bind to germs — suggest that their levels do wane with time.
A Hong Kong man got the new coronavirus twice | Erin Garcia de Jesus | August 26, 2020 | Science News For StudentsA few studies measuring antibodies — key immune proteins that recognize and bind to pathogens — suggest that antibody levels do wane over time.
A man in Hong Kong is the first confirmed case of coronavirus reinfection | Erin Garcia de Jesus | August 24, 2020 | Science NewsThe game’s scenarios, while simplified, recognize real-world problems for these animals.
The board game Endangered shows just how hard conservation can be | Sarah Zielinski | August 21, 2020 | Science NewsThat finding gives astronomers more confidence that they will be able to recognize potentially habitable exoplanets.
Hubble watched a lunar eclipse to see Earth from an alien’s perspective | Maria Temming | August 17, 2020 | Science NewsNow researchers have discovered a set of supersensing cells in the taste buds of mice that can detect four of the five flavors that the buds recognize.
Newly discovered cells in mice can sense four of the five tastes | Carolyn Wilke | August 13, 2020 | Science News
But unlike any other director, he was an identifiable public figure, as recognizable as any president or movie star.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIs there a more celebrated--and recognizable— 20th century movie director?
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days | David Freeman | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWarren makes one clearly recognizable gesture to the center, and the centrists make one recognizable gesture to the left.
And part of what makes it weird is that he stands alone as a recognizable figure.
Kevin Spacey Stars as a Frank Underwood-like Warmonger in ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’ | Alec Kubas-Meyer | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe is probably the most recognizable calavera artist in the world.
When she lowered her eyes and looked out again across the sands, the figure had approached so close as to be recognizable.
Dope | Sax RohmerSome of them were so worn with hunger and fatigue as to be hardly recognizable, and all were utterly discouraged.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail | Arthur R. ThompsonI knew that in twenty-four hours there wouldn't be a recognizable body left, and in a week there wouldn't be anything at all.
In the Dark | Ronal KayserSome appeared smashed almost out of all recognizable shape, while others were, to all appearances unharmed.
The Sargasso of Space | Edmond HamiltonThe two were Verinder and Captain Kilmeny, though at that distance they were not recognizable.
The Highgrader | William MacLeod Raine
British Dictionary definitions for recognize
recognise
/ (ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz) /
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
Origin of recognize
1Derived forms of recognize
- recognizable or recognisable, adjective
- recognizability or recognisability, noun
- recognizably or recognisably, adverb
- recognizer or recogniser, noun
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
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