distinguish
Other forms: distinguished; distinguishing; distinguishes
To distinguish means to tell apart. If you win the lottery, you’re going to need to learn to distinguish between people who really like you and people who like your money.
To distinguish is to discern, which means to perceive or recognize the way something differs from what’s around it. It takes discerning taste buds to distinguish between Coke and Pepsi. Distinguish also means to separate yourself out from the pack, usually in a good way. You might distinguish yourself at a Comics Convention with your encyclopedic knowledge of Krazy Kat.
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mark as different“We distinguish several kinds of maple”
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synonyms:
differentiate, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
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types:
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know
be able to distinguish, recognize as being different
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discern, discriminate, know apart
recognize or perceive the difference
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label
distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions
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label
distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom
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sex
tell the sex (of young chickens)
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individualise, individualize
make or mark or treat as individual
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contrast
put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
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severalise, severalize
distinguish or separate
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contradistinguish
distinguish by contrasting qualities
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decouple, dissociate
regard as unconnected
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demarcate
separate clearly, as if by boundaries
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discriminate, separate, single out
treat differently on the basis of sex or race
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stratify
divide society into social classes or castes
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insulate, isolate
place or set apart
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subtilize
mark fine distinctions and subtleties, as among words
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hive off
remove from a group and make separate
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segregate
separate by race or religion; practice a policy of racial segregation
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redline
discriminate in selling or renting housing in certain areas of a neighborhood
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disadvantage, disfavor, disfavour
put at a disadvantage; hinder, harm
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make conspicuous or noteworthy
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types:
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singularise, singularize
distinguish as singular
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type of:
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mark
designate as if by a mark
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singularise, singularize
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be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense“His modesty distinguishes him from his peers”
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synonyms:
differentiate, mark
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mark
designate as if by a mark
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types:
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characterise, characterize
be characteristic of
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individuate
give individual character to
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define
determine the nature of
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type of:
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characterise, characterize, qualify
describe or portray the character or the qualities or peculiarities of
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mark
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detect with the senses
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types:
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resolve
make clearly visible
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discriminate
distinguish
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resolve
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identify as in botany or biology, for example
/dəˈstɪŋgwɪʃ/
/dɪsˈtɪŋgwɪʃ/
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Vocabulary lists containing distinguish
When war destroys their life in Syria, Nuri Ibrahim tries to hold onto hope that he and his grieving wife will survive the dangerous journey to a new home.
In this fourth book of the series The Trials of Apollo, Lester joins the Roman demigods in their search for the tomb of an undead king.
In this sequel to Out of My Mind, sixth-grader Melody Brooks will not let her cerebral palsy stop her from enjoying all the activities offered by The Green Glades Therapeutic Recreational summer camp.
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