identify

play

verb iden·ti·fy \ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī, ə-\

Simple Definition of identify

: to know and say who someone is or what something is
: to find out who someone is or what something is
: to show who someone is or what something is

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of identify

identified

identifying

transitive verb
1 a : to cause to be or become identical b : to conceive as united (as in spirit, outlook, or principle) <groups that are identified with conservation>
2 a : to establish the identity of b : to determine the taxonomic position of (a biological specimen)
intransitive verb
1 : to be or become the same
2 : to practice psychological identification <identify with the hero of a novel>

identifiable

play \-ˌden-tə-ˈfī-ə-bəl\ adjective

identifiably

play \-blē\ adverb

See identify defined for English-language learners

See identify defined for kids

Examples of identify in a sentence

She identified the dog as her lost pet.
He was able to correctly identify the mushroom.
The witness positively identified the suspect in the crime.
The corpse was identified on the basis of dental records.
They could not identify the source of the quotation.
They had no difficulty in identifying the problem.
We began by identifying what we needed for the job.
We need to identify the causes of unemployment.

1644

First Known Use of identify

1644

IDENTIFY Defined for Kids

identify

play

verb iden·ti·fy \ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī\

Definition of identify for Students

identified

identifying

1 : to find out or show the identity of <… they ate … a mystery casserole that I could not identify. — Sharon Creech, Walk Two Moons>
2 : to feel empathy for <I identified with her problem.>
3 : to think of as joined or associated with <These groups are identified with conservation.>

Medical Dictionary

identify

play

verb iden·ti·fy \ī-ˈdent-ə-ˌfī, ə-\

Medical Definition of identify

identified

;

identifying

transitive verb

: to determine the taxonomic position of (a biological specimen)

intransitive verb

: to undergo or experience psychological identification <identify with the hero of a novel>

Law Dictionary

identify

transitive verb iden·ti·fy

Legal Definition of identify

identified

identifying

1 : to consider as united or associated (as in interests or principles) <can ask leading questions of a witness who is identified with an adverse party>
2 : to establish the identity of <identifying the suspect>
3 : to specify or designate (goods) as the object of a contract —used in the phrase identify to the contract <the disputed beans were goods identified to the contract>

identifiable

adjective

identification

noun

Additional Notes on identify

Under the Uniform Commercial Code, once goods are identified to a contract, the buyer has a special property interest and an insurable interest in the goods. This gives the buyer the right to seek damages and other relief. This identification can be done at any time and in any manner agreed to by the parties or as otherwise specified in the U.C.C.