Definition of differentiate
differentiated
;differentiating
transitive verb
1 mathematics : to obtain the mathematical derivative (see 1derivative 3) of
2 : to mark or show a difference in : constitute a contrasting element that distinguishes features that differentiate the twins how we differentiate ourselves from our competitors
3 : to develop differential or distinguishing characteristics in What differentiated a laborer from another man … — Sherwood Anderson
4 biology : to cause differentiation (see differentiation 3b) of in the course of development cells that are differentiated from stem cells
5 : to express the specific distinguishing quality of : discriminate differentiate poetry and prose
intransitive verb
1 : to recognize or give expression to a difference difficult to differentiate between the two
2 : to become distinct or different in character
3 biology : to undergo differentiation (see differentiation 3b) when the cells begin to differentiate
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Examples of differentiate in a Sentence
The only thing that differentiates the twins is the color of their eyes.
it was hard at first to differentiate between the two styles of music
Recent Examples of differentiate from the Web
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To address this issue, newer FICO and VantageScore models differentiate between medical and non-medical debt.
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Known most for its prowess on the football field, Boise State is now making its mark around the world because vendors can’t differentiate color schemes or map locations.
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Facebook is also differentiating itself by staying away from political dramas, shows with nudity or strong language, and shows that appeal to children and young teenagers.
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Ewing: The synthetic-controls approach is what differentiated your study from the 2004 NRC study, is that right?
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The new interactive style is yet another way Netflix is pushing ahead its Internet-first mentality, finding ways to differentiate itself from other streaming platforms, especially in the wake of its competitive new cancellation flow.
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The technology lets people pay with smartphones without seeing a cashier or going to a checkout kiosk, which would help Amazon differentiate itself in the brick-and-mortar setting and reduce labor costs at Whole Foods stores.
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Apple has tried to differentiate its HomePod from Amazon Echo and others by saying its device will deliver premium sound—a feature the iPhone maker argues its competition doesn't offer.
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Our findings contribute to the strong scientific evidence that both air pollution and traffic noise are bad for our health, although to further differentiate between air and noise pollution will need more work.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'differentiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of differentiate
see 1different
DIFFERENTIATE Defined for English Language Learners
differentiate
playDefinition of differentiate for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone or something) different in some way
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: to see or state the difference or differences between two or more things
DIFFERENTIATE Defined for Kids
differentiate
playDefinition of differentiate for Students
differentiated
;differentiating
1 : to make or become different What differentiates the cars?
2 : to recognize or state the difference between I can't differentiate the two colors.
Medical Dictionary
differentiate
playMedical Definition of differentiate
differentiated
;differentiating
1
transitive verb
: to constitute a difference that distinguishes the history of the injury also differentiates these two fractures—J. S. Keene et al2: to cause differentiation of in the course of development
3: to discriminate or give expression to a specific difference that distinguishes quickly learned to differentiate sharp pain from dull pain
4: to cause differentiation in (a specimen for microscopic examination) by staining
1
intransitive verb
: to recognize or express a difference differentiate between humans and the rest of the primates2: to undergo differentiation when a B cell matures, it differentiates into a plasma cell that secretes antibodies—R. C. Gallo
Learn More about differentiate
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See words that rhyme with differentiate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for differentiate Spanish Central: Translation of differentiate Nglish: Translation of differentiate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of differentiate for Arabic speakers
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