Word Explorer
Recognize
/ˈɹɛkənaɪz/
To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
📖 Definitions of "Recognize"
- 1
To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
"I recognised his face immediately."
- 2
To acknowledge the existence or legality of; to treat as valid or worthy of consideration.
"The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognize Kosovo on Monday."
- 3
(or with clause) To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).
"I recognize that my behaviour has been unacceptable."
- 4
To realize or discover the nature of something; apprehend quality in.
🔄 Synonyms of "Recognize"
12 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| discernverb | (transitive) To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry. |
| acknowledgeverb | (transitive) To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in. |
| realizeverb | (transitive) To become aware of, understand, or appreciate (a fact or situation, especially something which has been true for some time). |
| agnizeverb | (transitive, archaic) To recognise; to acknowledge. |
| distinguishverb | To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics. |
| make outverb | (slang, chiefly US, intransitive) To embrace and kiss passionately. |
| knowverb | (transitive) To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that. |
| agniseverb | Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of agnize. [(transitive, archaic) To recognise; to acknowledge.] |
| accreditverb | (transitive) To certify as meeting a predetermined standard; to certify an educational institution as upholding the specified standards necessary for the students to advance. |
| greetverb | (transitive) To welcome in a friendly manner, either in person or through another means such as writing. |
| tell apartverb | (idiomatic) To perceive things as different, or to perceive their difference itself; to differentiate, distinguish, discriminate. |
| pick outverb | (transitive) To select. |
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Recognize"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| realizeverb | (transitive) To become aware of, understand, or appreciate (a fact or situation, especially something which has been true for some time). |
| agnizeverb | (transitive, archaic) To recognise; to acknowledge. |
| knowverb | (transitive) To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that. |
| accreditverb | (transitive) To certify as meeting a predetermined standard; to certify an educational institution as upholding the specified standards necessary for the students to advance. |
| discernverb | (transitive) To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry. |
| acknowledgeverb | (transitive) To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in. |
| distinguishverb | To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics. |
| tell apartverb | (idiomatic) To perceive things as different, or to perceive their difference itself; to differentiate, distinguish, discriminate. |
| greetverb | (transitive) To welcome in a friendly manner, either in person or through another means such as writing. |
| pick outverb | (transitive) To select. |
| agniseverb | Non-Oxford British English standard spelling of agnize. [(transitive, archaic) To recognise; to acknowledge.] |
| make outverb | (slang, chiefly US, intransitive) To embrace and kiss passionately. |
| recognitionnoun | The act of recognizing or the condition of being recognized (matching a current observation with a memory of a prior observation of the same entity). |
| recognisable | (British spelling) Able to be recognised. |
| understandverb | (transitive, intransitive, of communication or means of communication: words, statements, signs, etc.) To know the meaning of; to parse or have parsed correctly; to comprehend. |
| cognizant | Aware; fully informed; having understanding of a fact. |
| understandingnoun | (uncountable) The act of one that understands or comprehends; the mental process of discernment of meaning. |
| seeverb | (transitive) To perceive or detect someone or something with the eyes, or as if by sight. |
| identifyingnoun | An act of identification. |
| affirmationnoun | That which is affirmed; a declaration that something is true. |
⚡ Words Strongly Associated with "Recognize"
These words statistically appear in the same text as "recognize" (Google Books Ngrams).
🏷️ Nouns for "Recognize"
Common nouns this word is used to describe.
📝 Common Phrases with "Recognize"
Words that come before
🌐 Broader and Narrower Concepts
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