distinguish

verb

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dis·tin·guish | \ di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish

distinguished; distinguishing; distinguishes

Definition of distinguish

transitive verb

1 : to perceive a difference in : mentally separate so alike they could not be distinguished

2a : to mark as separate or different a policy that distinguishes him from other candidates

b : to separate into kinds, classes, or categories distinguish words by their part of speech

c : to make noteworthy or remarkable : to give prominence or distinction (see distinction sense 4) to distinguished themselves as pioneers of hip-hop

d : characterize recipes distinguished by simplicity

3a : discern distinguished a light in the distance could barely distinguish them in the fog

b : to single out : take special notice of

intransitive verb

: to perceive a difference distinguish between right and wrong

Other Words from distinguish Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing distinguish Learn More About distinguish

Other Words from distinguish

distinguishability \ di-ˌstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

distinguishable \ di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-bəl

\ adjective

distinguishably \ di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-blē

\ adverb

Examples of distinguish in a Sentence

You're old enough to distinguish between fact and fantasy. I have trouble distinguishing between the two of them. I have trouble distinguishing the difference between the two of them. You should be able to distinguish fact from fantasy. The only thing that distinguishes the dogs is their bark. The singer's voice is what distinguishes the band. You can't distinguish the detail from this distance. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Such gear is standard and meant to distinguish journalists from crowds and combatants while signaling to all sides that they should not be targeted. — Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 12 May 2022 Gaiman gave Sturridge another important piece of advice early on, to help distinguish his performance from another comic book icon. — Christian Holub, EW.com, 12 May 2022 Today, these myths are merely a point of interest, a marketing angle to help distinguish Mount Pilatus from all the other scenic sites in Switzerland. — New York Times, 12 May 2022 Clinicians say that paying attention to your individual medical history may help distinguish allergies from COVID. — Mariana Lenharo, Scientific American, 11 May 2022 Jim Kossin, a senior hurricane scientist at the Climate Service who reviewed the research, said this study is important to help distinguish how storms respond to air pollution versus greenhouse gases. — Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 11 May 2022 Trademarks are sought when companies introduce names, logos, colors or symbols that distinguish a product or business brand. — Daisy Maxey, WSJ, 7 May 2022 For example, edge intelligence will allow smart home devices to distinguish between household occupants with ease. — Mark Lippett, Forbes, 5 May 2022 Apple is doing more to distinguish the iPhone 14 Pro from the iPhone 14 phones. — Chris Smith, BGR, 25 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'distinguish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.