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Definition of distinguish

distinguish

/dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
dis · tin · guish
Adverb:distinguishably
•
Adjective:distinguishable
•
Past Simple:distinguished
•
Past Participle:distinguished
•
Present Participle:distinguishing
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distinguish Lexical Profile

distinguish Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To recognize or treat someone or something as different from others.

Example

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

2

To be an identifying characteristic or mark that sets someone or something apart from others.

Example

"Complex vocal communication is one of the primary traits that distinguishes humans from other primates."

3

To manage to discern or make out something clearly through sight, hearing, or another sense.

Example

"Through the thick morning fog, the captain could barely distinguish the outline of the lighthouse."

4

To make oneself prominent and worthy of respect through notable achievements or behavior (used reflexively).

Example

"She distinguished herself early in her medical career through groundbreaking research in immunology."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for distinguish

• Nearby Words

distinctiveness
distinctly
distinctness
distinguish
distinguishable
distinguishably
distinguished

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French distinguer, from Latin distinguere ('to separate between, keep separate, mark off'), originally meaning 'to separate by pricking' from dis- ('apart') and stinguere ('to prick').

Cite this Entry

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