DISTINGUISH
Word of the Week
DISTINGUISH
dis·tin·guish
verb \di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish\
: to notice or recognize a difference between people or things
: to make (someone or something) different or special in some way
: to see or hear (someone or something) clearly
Full Definition of DISTINGUISH
transitive verb
1
: to perceive a difference in : mentally separate <so alike they could not be distinguished>
2
a : to mark as separate or different <a policy thatdistinguishes him from other candidates>
3
a : discern <distinguished a light in the distance>
intransitive verb
: to perceive a difference <distinguish between right and wrong>
— dis·tin·guish·abil·i·ty noun
— dis·tin·guish·able adjective
— dis·tin·guish·ably adverb
Examples of DISTINGUISH
- You're old enough to distinguish between fact and fantasy.
- I have trouble distinguishing between the two of them.
- I have trouble distinguishing the difference between the two of them.
- You should be able to distinguish fact from fantasy.
- The only thing that distinguishes the dogs is their bark.
- The singer's voice is what distinguishes the band.
- You can't distinguish the detail from this distance.
Related to DISTINGUISH
difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, secern,separate
Antonyms
Related Words
contradistinguish; comprehend, grasp, know, understand;divide, part, sever; demarcate, mark (off), set off
Near Antonyms