WordGarden.iodistinguish
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
US
- /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/
Meanings
Verb
to recognize or tell the difference between people or things
to be the feature that makes someone or something different
to manage to see, hear, or notice something unclearly
More meaningsFewer meanings
to make oneself notable or respected through achievement
Beyond the definition
To distinguish something means to notice or point out the differences between it and other things. It's like being a detective for details! You might distinguish a robin from a sparrow by its red breast, or distinguish between right and wrong based on your values. Sometimes, distinguishing is easy—like telling a cat from a dog. Other times, it's hard—like telling apart identical twins (and they'd definitely have opinions about that!). A skilled wine taster can distinguish subtle flavors, while a good friend can distinguish when you're truly happy from when you're just pretending to be.
To distinguish means to perceive or point out a difference; to tell things apart. It's more than simply seeing two things—it requires recognizing what makes them unique. This word often implies a degree of careful observation and judgment. For example, saying "It's difficult to distinguish fact from fiction in that story" suggests the truth is obscured and requires discernment.
Distinguish can be used in several contexts. You might distinguish yourself through hard work and dedication—meaning you set yourself apart from others by achieving something noteworthy. A historian might distinguish between different periods of time, highlighting their key characteristics. In biology, scientists distinguish species based on their physical traits or genetic makeup.
In some contexts, it also involves judging quality. You can distinguish fine craftsmanship from shoddy work—not just noticing a difference, but recognizing what matters. Think of a chef who can distinguish between different herbs by smell alone—that's a refined skill!
So whether you're separating similar objects, identifying unique qualities, or setting yourself apart through achievement, to distinguish is to recognize and highlight what makes things different—and sometimes, what makes something special.
Examples
- 1
Directions
Young children sometimes can't distinguish left from right.
- 2
Voices
It's hard to distinguish between his twin brothers on the phone.
- Patterndistinguish between A and B
tell which is which
- 3
Real vs fake
Can you distinguish the fake one from the real one?
- Patterndistinguish A from B
recognize the difference
- 4
Email filtering
The program is designed to distinguish spam from normal email.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Teaching
Good teachers distinguish between a simple mistake and a lack of understanding.
- 6
Product difference
What distinguishes this model from the older one is its longer battery life.
- Patternwhat distinguishes A from B
what makes A different from B
- 7
Legal context
The law does not distinguish between threats made online and threats made in person.
- 8
Personal achievement
She distinguished herself in the debate by staying calm under pressure.
- Phrasedistinguish yourself
do something noticeably well
See also
Similar
- differentiate
- tell apart
- discern
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- distinguish between
- distinguish from
- distinguish clearly
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- distinguishverb
Forms
- distinguishedpast tenseverb
- distinguishing-ing formverb
- distinguishesverb