recognize

verb

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rec·og·nize | \ ˈre-kig-ˌnīz

, -kəg- \

recognized; recognizing

Definition of recognize

transitive verb

1 : to acknowledge formally: such as

a : to admit as being lord or sovereign

b : to admit as being of a particular status

c : to admit as being one entitled to be heard : give the floor to

d : to acknowledge the de facto existence or the independence of

2 : to acknowledge or take notice of in some definite way: such as

a : to acknowledge with a show of appreciation recognize an act of bravery with the award of a medal

b : to acknowledge acquaintance with recognize a neighbor with a nod

3a : to perceive to be something or someone previously known recognized the word

b : to perceive clearly : realize

Other Words from recognize Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about recognize

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Examples of recognize in a Sentence

I didn't recognize you at first with your new haircut. I can always recognize him from far away by the way he walks. They recognized the odor at once. The U.S. government has now recognized the newly formed country. They refused to recognize the treaty.

Recent Examples on the Web Most of the vaccines being rolled out around the world train the body to recognize that spike protein and fight it. — The Associated Press, NOLA.com, "Pfizer study suggests coronavirus vaccine works against virus mutation," 8 Jan. 2021 Many schools have adopted mindfulness programs as a way to help students better recognize their thoughts and emotions and to better understand how these thoughts and emotions influence their actions. — The Conversation, oregonlive, "Children and teens can benefit from mindfulness training, studies indicate," 5 Jan. 2021 The first shot aims to help the body recognize the virus and prime the immune system, while the second shot strengthens that immune-response readiness. — Joseph De Avila, WSJ, "New York Moves to Accelerate Covid-19 Vaccinations," 4 Jan. 2021 Inoculated cells will then make and display the viral spike on their surface so that the immune system learns to recognize and fight off the virus later. — Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, "New COVID Vaccines Need Absurd Amounts of Material and Labor," 4 Jan. 2021 Your computer and smart phone recognize your PayPal presence and automatically fill in the account number and shipping details. — Terry Savage, chicagotribune.com, "Terry Savage: Credit card euphoria will lead to nasty hangover," 31 Dec. 2020 Public and private insurers should recognize and cover patients’ use of telehealth services on par with in-person visits to a doctor’s office. — Vas Narasimhan, STAT, "Stopping the syndemic: Covid-19 plus other debilitating and deadly diseases," 30 Dec. 2020 But Pace, who is Black, worries that the broader societal will to recognize and reduce health inequities will fade as the U.S. begins edging back toward normalcy. — Ed Yong, The Atlantic, "Pandemic Year Two," 29 Dec. 2020 After South Korea reported its first COVID-19 patient on Jan. 20, the KDCA was quick to recognize the importance of mass testing and sped up an approval process that had private companies producing millions of tests in just weeks. — Bloomberg.com, "After Early Success, South Korea Sleepwalks Into Virus Crisis," 26 Dec. 2020

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

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Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Recognize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recognize. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for recognize

recognize

verb

English Language Learners Definition of recognize

: to know and remember (someone or something) because of previous knowledge or experience

: to accept or be aware that (something) is true or exists

: to accept and approve of (something) as having legal or official authority

See the full definition for recognize in the English Language Learners Dictionary

recognize

verb

rec·og·nize | \ ˈre-kig-ˌnīz

recognized; recognizing

Kids Definition of recognize

1 : to know and remember upon seeing I recognized an old friend.

2 : to be willing to accept I recognized my own faults.

3 : to take approving notice of They recognized his bravery with a medal.

recognize

transitive verb

rec·og·nize

recognized; recognizing

Legal Definition of recognize

1 : to acknowledge formally: as

a : to admit as being of a particular status recognize a precedent recognize a union specifically : to acknowledge (as a right, cause of action, or defense) as valid

b : to admit as being one entitled to be heard : give the floor to

c : to acknowledge the de facto existence or the independence of refused to recognize the new government

2 : to account for as real, received, or incurred and treat and record appropriately specifically : to account for (a gain, loss, expense, or income) on current accounting or tax records recognized the gain when she included it as income on her tax return — compare realize

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