recognize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc..
He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.
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to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics.
I recognized him from the description.
They recognized him as a fraud.
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to perceive as existing or true; realize.
to be the first to recognize a fact.
- Synonyms:
- concede, grant, understand, appreciate, acknowledge
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to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time.
The Speaker recognized the congressman from Maine.
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to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit.
The United States promptly recognized Israel.
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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.
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to acknowledge or treat as valid.
to recognize a claim.
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to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.
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to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.
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Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.
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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.
verb
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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
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to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc)
to recognize necessity
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to give formal acknowledgment of the status or legality of (a government, an accredited representative, etc)
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to grant (a person) the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc
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to give a token of thanks for (a service rendered, etc)
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to make formal acknowledgment of (a claim, etc)
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to show approval or appreciation of (something good or pleasing)
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to acknowledge or greet (a person), as when meeting by chance
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(intr) to enter into a recognizance
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recognize
First recorded in 1425–75; recogn(ition) ( def. ) + -ize ( def. ); replacing late Middle English racunnysen, recognisen, from Old French reconuiss-, stem of reconuistre, from Latin recognōscere, equivalent to re- re- ( def. ) + cognōscere “to know 1 ( def. ) ”; see cognition ( def. )
Explanation
When, at a meeting, you wave your hand wildly, you want to be recognized. When the chairperson finally says, “I recognize the man who is about to fall out of his seat,” don't forget what you wanted to say. The verb recognize comes from the Latin root words re (again) and cognoscere (to know) – literally “to know again” or “to identify.” If your own identical twin doesn't recognize you, you might be wearing too much makeup. Recognize can also mean “to acknowledge” or “to appreciate.” When you recognize the donors for their generous contributions to your fundraising event, your parents say, “You're welcome.”
Vocabulary lists containing recognize
Vocabulary of the Common Core
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
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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.
The artificial-intelligence company updated a post on its website from February that had warned investors it won’t recognize sales of Anthropic stock that haven’t been approved by its board.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Unlike chemotherapy, which kills healthy and cancerous cells alike, these medicines essentially empower patients’ immune systems to correctly recognize and attack tumors.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
It expects to recognize about $3.7 billion of the backlog as revenue in 2026 and 2027 combined.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Dr. Pearson began wondering whether aptamer technology could be adapted to recognize senescent cells.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
I recognize many of our neighbors swaying to the beat of the three batá drums, large, medium, and small.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
Definitions 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.
