distinguish
To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.
Other meanings
To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
To make noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.
“The soldier distinguished himself in combat and received a medal.”
Synonyms
- separate
- differentiate
- tell
- tell apart
Related words
- counterdistinguish
- distinguishability
- distinguisher
- distinguishment
- interdistinguish
- misdistinguish
- redistinguish
- subdistinguish
- undistinguishability
- distinguished
- distinguishable
- distinguishing
Word history
From Latin "distinguo".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “distinguish” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.