Definitions for distinguish
dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃdis·tin·guish

Princeton's WordNet(1.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apartverb

   mark as different

   "We distinguish several kinds of maple"

2. spot, recognize, recognise, distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apartverb

   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"

3. distinguish, mark, differentiateverb

   be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense

   "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers"

4. signalize, signalise, distinguishverb

   make conspicuous or noteworthy

5. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, nameverb

   identify as in botany or biology, for example

Wiktionary(1.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. distinguishverb

   To see someone or something as different from others.

   Etymology: From distingwen, from distinguer, from distinguere, from di- for dis- + *; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.

2. distinguishverb

   To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.

   Etymology: From distingwen, from distinguer, from distinguere, from di- for dis- + *; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.

3. distinguishverb

   To make one's self noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.

   Etymology: From distingwen, from distinguer, from distinguere, from di- for dis- + *; see sting, stigma, style. Compare extinguish.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distinguishverb

   not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic

2. Distinguishverb

   to separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low

3. Distinguishverb

   to recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum

4. Distinguishverb

   to constitute a difference; to make to differ

5. Distinguishverb

   to separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for

6. Distinguishverb

   to make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle

7. Distinguishverb

   to become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Distinguish

   dis-ting′gwish, v.t. to mark off, set apart (often with from): to recognise by characteristic qualities: to discern critically: to separate by a mark of honour: to make eminent or known.—v.i. to make or show distinctions or differences, to recognise the difference (with from, between).—adj. Disting′uishable, that may be capable of being distinguished.—adv. Disting′uishably.—p.adj. Disting′uished, illustrious.—n. Disting′uisher.—p.adj. Disting′uishing, peculiar.—n. Disting′uishment (Shak.), distinction. [Through Fr. from L. distinguĕre, distinctum—dis, asunder, stinguĕre, to prick, conn. with Gr. stizein, to mark. See Sting.]

Matched Categories

1. • Characterize
   • Mark

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distinguish' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4481

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'distinguish' in Verbs Frequency: #485

How to pronounce distinguish?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say distinguish in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of distinguish in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of distinguish in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of distinguish in a Sentence

1. Lewis Lapham:

   Under the rules of a society that cannot distinguish between profit and profiteering, between money defined as necessity and money defined as luxury, murder is occasionally obligatory and always permissible.

2. Anuj Somany:

   A sane may distinguish the true believers in him from the horde of followers by differentiating who TRULY likes his own or others shared thoughts from those who MERELY like the beautiful picture that his quote poster has got.

3. G. M. Trevelyan:

   Education has produced a vast population able to read but unable to distinguish what is worth reading.

4. Chuck Schumer:

   We need the president to be able to distinguish between our allies and adversaries, and to treat each accordingly.

5. Adam Schiff:

   The algorithms which power social media platforms as well as Amazon's recommendations are not designed to distinguish quality information from misinformation or misleading information, and as a result harmful anti-vaccine messages have been able to thrive and spread, every online platform, including Amazon, must act responsibly and ensure that they do not contribute to this growing public health catastrophe.

Images & Illustrations of distinguish

Popularity rank by frequency of use