recognize

verb

rec·​og·​nize ˈre-kig-ˌnīz 

-kəg-

recognized; recognizing

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

3

a

: to perceive to be something or someone previously known

recognized the word

b

: to perceive clearly : realize

recognizability

ˌre-kig-ˌnī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

-kəg-

noun

recognizable

ˈre-kəg-ˌnī-zə-bəl 

-kig-

adjective

recognizably

ˈre-kəg-ˌnī-zə-blē 

-kig-

adverb

recognizer noun

Synonyms

• appreciate
• apprehend
• assimilate
• behold
• catch
• catch on (to)
• cognize
• compass
• comprehend
• conceive
• cotton (to or on to)
• decipher
• decode
• dig
• discern
• get
• grasp
• grok
• intuit
• know
• make
• make out
• perceive
• register
• savvy
• see
• seize
• sense
• tumble (to)
• twig
• understand

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

He was recognized with the 2022 BET Lifetime Achievement Award and with the Global Icon Award at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. —Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023

She has been recognized as the only woman from India’s TV industry in the Variety500 power list, and has been behind more than 17,000 hours of TV, 45 films and one of India’s first over-the-top platforms, Alt Balaji. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 17 Nov. 2023

But this year, he was recognized for his patriotism, and his body was moved from the family plot to the national cemetery, with full honors. —Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

Aztecs fans might recognize the name Koren Johnson. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023

Sandiford-Artest was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1999 and was later recognized as one of the greatest on-ball defenders in the league, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023

Throughout the categories, superstars such as Bad Bunny, Christina Aguilera, Maluma, Peso Pluma and Rosalía were also recognized. —Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023

Viewing itself as a defender against imperialism and colonialism, China was one of the first countries to support the Palestine Liberation Organization and in 1988 became one of the first to recognize Palestine as a state. —Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

The respite led him to recognize his own suffering and accept that he had been stretched to a breaking point, Kiakona said. —Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

modification of Anglo-French reconois-, stem of reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, from re- + cognoscere to know — more at cognition

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

recognize

verb

rec·​og·​nize ˈrek-ig-ˌnīz 

ˈrek-əg-

recognized; recognizing

1

: to be willing to admit : acknowledge

recognized my own faults

2

: to admit as qualified to be heard at a meeting

recognizes the delegate from Arkansas

3

: to grant diplomatic recognition to

recognized the new government

4

: to take approving notice of

recognize an act of bravery with a medal

5

: to show one is acquainted with

recognize someone with a nod

6

: to know and remember upon seeing

I didn't recognize you in that new hairdo

recognizability

ˌrek-ig-ˌnī-zə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

ˌrek-əg-

noun

recognizable

ˈrek-əg-ˌnī-ze-bəl 

ˈrek-ig-

adjective

recognizably

-ˌnī-zə-blē 

adverb

Etymology

derived from early French reconoistre "to recognize," from Latin recognoscere (same meaning), from re- "again" and cognoscere "to know" — related to connoisseur, incognito

Legal Definition

recognize

transitive verb

rec·​og·​nize

recognized; recognizing

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