distinguish
verb
dis·tin·guish
di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish 
distinguished; distinguishing; distinguishes
1
: to perceive a difference in : mentally separate
so alike they could not be distinguished
2
a
: 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
3
a
: discern
distinguished a light in the distance
could barely distinguish them in the fog
b
: to single out : take special notice of
: to perceive a difference
distinguish between right and wrong
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
El Secreto de Rosita distinguishes itself from nearby competitors by housing Nabiha, a separate restaurant dedicated to serving Palestinian cuisine.
—
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2025
Some impressive expressive flourishes—the handiwork of Martyn Lawrence Bullard—distinguish the actor’s Southern California dwelling, starting with some quintessentially mid-mod wood surfaces as well as stone accents across the façade and pool deck.
—Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
To distinguish an Earth-like planet from its star at a distance of roughly 30 light-years, a space telescope must collect light across about 20 meters.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The Saffir‒Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) classifies hurricanes—western hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms—into five categories, distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds.
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
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David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2025
Some impressive expressive flourishes—the handiwork of Martyn Lawrence Bullard—distinguish the actor’s Southern California dwelling, starting with some quintessentially mid-mod wood surfaces as well as stone accents across the façade and pool deck.
—Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025
To distinguish an Earth-like planet from its star at a distance of roughly 30 light-years, a space telescope must collect light across about 20 meters.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The Saffir‒Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) classifies hurricanes—western hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms—into five categories, distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds.
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Cite this Entry
“Distinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distinguish. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
distinguish
verb
dis·tin·guish
dis-ˈtiŋ-(g)wish
1
: to recognize one thing from others by some mark or quality
distinguish the bird calls
3
: to know or point out the difference
distinguish between right and wrong
4
: to set apart as different or special
distinguished themselves by heroic actions
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