distinguish

1 to understand or point out the difference in <even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds> Synonyms difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, secern, separate Related Words contradistinguish; comprehend, grasp, know, understand; divide, part, sever; demarcate, mark (off), set off Near Antonyms confound, lump (together), mingle Antonyms confuse, mistake, mix (up)

2 to be an important feature of <muffin recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity> Synonyms characterize, markRelated Words differentiate; customize, individualize, particularize

3 to find out or establish the identity of <learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra> Synonyms identify, finger, ID, pinpoint, single (out)Related Words diagnose; determine, find; locate, pick out, place, recognize, spot; check, examine, inspect, investigate, notice, observe, scrutinize; betray, disclose, discover, revealNear Antonyms camouflage, conceal, disguise, hide; counterfeit, feign, sham, simulate

4 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist> Synonyms behold, catch, descry, discern, see, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witnessRelated Words identify, make out, pick out, pick up; attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind; study, watch; examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey; glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)Near Antonyms disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook

5 to arrange or assign according to type <please distinguish the specimens by acidity> Synonyms assort, break down, categorize, class, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, classify, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, typeRelated Words array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize; alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer; pigeonhole, shelve; identify, recognize; cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow; clump, cluster, colligate; recategorize, reclassify, regroup; subcategorizeNear Antonyms confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble; misclassify, missort, mistype