distinguish

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verb

Definition of 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 distinguish, mark

Related 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 distinguish, 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, reveal

Near 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, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witness

Related 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, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type

Related 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; subcategorize

Near Antonyms confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble; misclassify, missort, mistype