distinguishes; distinguished; distinguishing
1
: to notice or recognize a difference between people or things
You're old enough to distinguish between fact and fantasy.
I have trouble distinguishing between the two of them.
Their voices are hard to distinguish. [=tell apart]
I have trouble distinguishing the difference between the two of them.
You should be able to distinguish fact from fantasy.
2
not used in progressive tenses
: to make (someone or something) different or special in some way
The only thing that distinguishes the dogs is their bark.
The recipe is distinguished by its simplicity. [=the unusual or interesting thing about the recipe is its simplicity]
The singer's voice is what distinguishes the band.
—often + fromOur excellent customer service distinguishes us from our competitors.
The law affects private property as distinguished from public property. [=the law affects private property and not public property]
3
not used in progressive tenses
: to see or hear (someone or something) clearly
You can't distinguish the detail from this distance.
Cite this Entry
“Distinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/distinguish. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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