Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [dih-sting-gwish]
- /dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ/
- /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dih-sting-gwish]
- /dɪˈstɪŋ gwɪʃ/
Definitions of distinguish word
- verb with object distinguish to mark off as different (often followed by from or by): He was distinguished from the other boys by his height. 1
- verb with object distinguish to recognize as distinct or different; recognize the salient or individual features or characteristics of: It is hard to distinguish her from her twin sister. 1
- verb with object distinguish to perceive clearly by sight or other sense; discern; recognize: He could not distinguish many of the words. 1
- verb with object distinguish to set apart as different; be a distinctive characteristic of; characterize: It is his Italian accent that distinguishes him. 1
- verb with object distinguish to make prominent, conspicuous, or eminent: to distinguish oneself in battle. 1
- verb with object distinguish to divide into classes; classify: Let us distinguish the various types of metaphor. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of distinguish
First appearance:
before 1555 One of the 31% oldest English words
1555-65; extension, by -ish2, of Middle English disting(u)en (< Anglo-French, Middle French distinguer) < Latin distinguere; see distinct
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Distinguish
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
distinguish popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
distinguish usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for distinguish
verb distinguish
- discriminate — to make a distinction in favor of or against a person or thing on the basis of the group, class, or category to which the person or thing belongs rather than according to actual merit; show partiality: The new law discriminates against foreigners. He discriminates in favor of his relatives.
- divide — to separate into parts, groups, sections, etc.
- separate — to keep apart or divide, as by an intervening barrier or space: to separate two fields by a fence.
- recognize — to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.: He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.
- characterize — If something is characterized by a particular feature or quality, that feature or quality is an obvious part of it.
Antonyms for distinguish
verb distinguish
- mix up — an act or instance of mixing.
- combine — If you combine two or more things or if they combine, they exist together.
- connect — If something or someone connects one thing to another, or if one thing connects to another, the two things are joined together.
- link — a torch, especially of tow and pitch.
- unite — to join, combine, or incorporate so as to form a single whole or unit.
Top questions with distinguish
- what does distinguish mean?
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- which characteristic could help you distinguish between bacteria and fungi?
- how to distinguish allergies from a cold?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
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