Meaning & Definition of Distinguish in English
English⟶
Distinguish
/dɪstɪŋgwɪʃ/
verb
1. Mark as different
- "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
synonym:
- distinguish,
- separate,
- differentiate,
- secern,
- secernate,
- severalize,
- severalise,
- tell,
- tell apart
2. 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"
synonym:
- spot,
- recognize,
- recognise,
- distinguish,
- discern,
- pick out,
- make out,
- tell apart
3. Be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait
- Sometimes in a very positive sense
- "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers"
synonym:
- distinguish,
- mark,
- differentiate
4. Make conspicuous or noteworthy
synonym:
- signalize,
- signalise,
- distinguish
5. Identify as in botany or biology, for example
synonym:
- identify,
- discover,
- key,
- key out,
- distinguish,
- describe,
- name
Examples of using
I think to clearly distinguish opinion from fact is important.
It is easy to distinguish good from evil.
To distinguish right from wrong is difficult.