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
Synonyms for recognize
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for recognizable
observable, discernible, noticeable, perceptible, definite, measurable, marked, sizable, substantial, significant, detectable, appreciable, accessible, pronounced, evident, overt, undeniable, clear, unmistakable, visibleExamples from the Web for recognizable
Contemporary Examples of recognizable
But unlike any other director, he was an identifiable public figure, as recognizable as any president or movie star.
Is there a more celebrated--and recognizable— 20th century movie director?
Warren 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
He is probably the most recognizable calavera artist in the world.
Historical Examples of recognizable
The newcomers were dirty rogues; tipstaves, recognizable at a glance.
The Lion's SkinRafael Sabatini
Although there are a number of variations, two outstanding types are recognizable.
College TeachingPaul Klapper
If we are not recognizable by that high world you have told me of, who, then, are our equals?
Davenport Dunn, Volume 1 (of 2)Charles James Lever
The two were Verinder and Captain Kilmeny, though at that distance they were not recognizable.
The HighgraderWilliam MacLeod Raine
The fifth was so wrapped in his bearskin that he was not recognizable.
Peter the PriestMr Jkai
recognize
recognise
- 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
Word Origin for recognize
Word Origin and History for recognizable
recognize
early 15c., "resume possession of land," back-formation from recognizance, or else from Old French reconoiss-, stem of reconoistre "to know again, identify, recognize," from Latin recognoscere "acknowledge, recall to mind, know again; examine; certify," from re- "again" (see re-) + cognoscere "know" (see cognizance). Meaning "know again, recall or recover the knowledge of, perceive an identity with something formerly known or felt" first recorded 1530s. Related: Recognized; recognizing.