1. (verb)recognize, recognise showapproval or appreciation of "My work is not recognized by anybody!"; "The best student was recognized by the Dean"
2. (verb)accredit, recognize, recognise grantcredentials to "The Regents officially recognized the new educational institution"; "recognize an academic degree"
3. (verb)spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart detect with the senses "The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards"; "I can't make out the faces in this photograph"
5. (verb)acknowledge, recognize, recognise express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for "We must acknowledge the kindness she showed towards us"
6. (verb)recognize, recognise, realize, realise, agnize, agnise be fully aware or cognizant of
7. (verb)recognize, recognise perceive to be the same
8. (verb)acknowledge, recognize, recognise, know accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority "The Crown Prince was acknowledged as the true heir to the throne"; "We do not recognize your gods"
Sense: to see, hear etc (a person, thing etc) and know who or what that person, thing etc is, because one has seen or heard him, it etc before I recognized his voice/handwriting; I recognized him by his voice.