variants
also British recognise
recognizes; recognized; recognizing
1
not used in progressive tenses
: to know and remember (someone or something) because of previous knowledge or experience
I didn't recognize you at first with your new haircut.
I can always recognize him from far away by/from the way he walks.
They recognized the odor at once.
2
: to accept or be aware that (something) is true or exists
It's important to recognize [=be aware of] your own faults.
They started talking and quickly recognized [=realized] how much they had in common.
3
: to accept and approve of (something) as having legal or official authority
The U.S. government has now recognized the newly formed country.
They refused to recognize the treaty.
4
: to think of (someone or something) as being something specified
The institute is an internationally recognized authority on eye surgery.
Walt Whitman is recognized as one of America's great poets.
5
: to publicly give special attention or notice to (someone or something)
They recognized her years of service with a special award.
We want to find an appropriate way to recognize his achievements.
Cite this Entry
“Recognize.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/recognize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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