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Definition of differentiate

differentiate

/ˌdɪf.əˈrɛn.ʃi.eɪt/
dif · fer · en · ti · ate

Adjective:differentiable
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Past Simple:differentiated
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Past Participle:differentiated
•
Present Participle:differentiating
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differentiate Lexical Profile

differentiate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To recognize or ascertain what makes someone or something different from others.

Example

"Young children sometimes struggle to differentiate between fantasy and reality."


2

To make someone or something appear different or distinct from others.

Example

"The software company sought to differentiate its new product through superior customer service."


3

To undergo or cause to undergo a process of becoming specialized in structure or function (of cells, tissues, or organs during development).

Example

"Under the right laboratory conditions, stem cells can differentiate into specialized heart muscle tissue."


4

To transform a mathematical function into its derivative through the process of calculus.

Example

"The professor asked the students to differentiate the equation with respect to time."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for differentiate

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century from Medieval Latin differentiatus, the past participle of differentiare ('to distinguish'), which derives from Latin differentia ('difference'), ultimately from dis- ('apart') and ferre ('to carry').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Differentiate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/differentiate
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