Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense recognizes, present participle recognizing, past tense, past participle recognizedregional note: in BRIT, also use recognise
1. verb [no cont]
If you recognize someone or something, you know who that person is or what that thing is.
The receptionist recognized him at once. [VERB noun]
He did not think she could recognize his car in the snow. [VERB noun]
A man I easily recognized as Luke's father sat with a newspaper on his lap. [VERB noun + as]
Synonyms: identify, know, place, remember More Synonyms of recognize
2. verb [no cont]
If someone says that they recognize something, they acknowledge that it exists or that it is true.
I recognize my own shortcomings. [VERB noun]
Well, of course I recognize that evil exists. [VERB that]
Synonyms: acknowledge, see, allow, understand More Synonyms of recognize
3. verb
If people or organizations recognize something as valid, they officially accept it or approve of it.
Most doctors appear to recognize homeopathy as a legitimate form of medicine. [VERB noun + as]
Eisenhower recognized the Castro government at once. [VERB noun]
...a nationally recognized expert on psychology. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB that]
Synonyms: approve, acknowledge, sanction, appreciate More Synonyms of recognize
4. verb
When people recognize the work that someone has done, they show their appreciation of it, often by givingthat person an award of some kind.
The RAF recognized him as an outstandingly able engineer. [VERB noun + as]
He had the insight to recognize their talents. [VERB noun]
Nichols was recognized by the Hall of Fame in 1949. [beVERB-ed + by]
Synonyms: appreciate, respect, notice, reward More Synonyms of recognize
recognize in British English
or recognise (ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to perceive (a person, creature, or thing) to be the same as or belong to the same class as something previously seen or known; know again
2.
to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc)
to recognize necessity
3.
to give formal acknowledgment of the status or legality of (a government, an accredited representative, etc)
4. mainly US and Canadian
to grant (a person) the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc
5.
to give a token of thanks for (a service rendered, etc)
6.
to make formal acknowledgment of (a claim, etc)
7.
to show approval or appreciation of (something good or pleasing)
8.
to acknowledge or greet (a person), as when meeting by chance
9. (intransitive) mainly US
to enter into a recognizance
Derived forms
recognizable (ˈrecogˌnizable) or recognisable (ˈrecogˌnisable)
adjective
recognizability (ˌrecogˌnizaˈbility) or recognisability (ˌrecogˌnisaˈbility)
noun
recognizably (ˈrecogˌnizably) or recognisably (ˈrecogˌnisably)
adverb
recognizer (ˈrecogˌnizer) or recogniser (ˈrecogˌniser)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Latin recognoscere to know again, from re- + cognoscere to know, ascertain
recognize in American English
(ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈrecogˌnized or ˈrecogˌnizing
1.
to be aware of as something or someone known before, or as the same as that known
to recognize an old friend after many years
2.
to know by some detail, as of appearance; identify
to recognize a butterfly by its coloring
3.
to be aware of the significance of
to recognize symptoms
4.
to acknowledge the existence, validity, authority, or genuineness of
to recognize a claim
5.
to accept as a fact; admit; accept
to recognize defeat
6.
to acknowledge as worthy of appreciation or approval
to recognize devotion
7.
to acknowledge the legal standing of (a government, state, etc.) by some formal action, as by entering into diplomatic relations
8.
to show acquaintance with (a person) by greeting
9. US
to acknowledge as having the right to speak, as in a meeting
Derived forms
recognizer (ˈrecogˌnizer)
noun
Word origin
altered (infl. by recognizance) < extended stem of OFr reconoistre: see recognizance
recognize in Accounting
(rɛkəgnaɪz)
Word forms: (present) recognizes, (past) recognized, (perfect) recognized, (progressive) recognizing
verb
(Accounting: Basic)
If you recognize a transaction, you record it as occurring in a particular period.
We recognized the income from the sale in the prior quarter.
Changes in market value of foreign exchange contracts are recognized as gains or losses.
If you recognize a transaction, you record it as occurring in a particular period.
Examples of 'recognize' in a sentence
recognize
Visitors are easily recognized and given a warm welcome.
Christianity Today (2000)
They recognize the essential fact of housework right from the very beginning.
Joanna Blythman Bad Food Britain (2006)
Many people do not recognize the trophy awarded that year.
John Foot Calcio: A History of Italian Football (2006)
That can best be summed up by the fact that we recognize experience.
Corporate Research Foundation TOP MARKETING AND MEDIA COMPANIES IN THE UK (2002)
Most of the European powers promptly recognized his government.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
It should also be recognized that government participation in self-help housing is not a new phenomenon.
Tomlinson, Richard Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa (1990)
The vicious circle of alienation is closed, in that people fail to recognize their own alienation.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
Although he would not accept or recognize it, he shows many of the signs of self-loathing.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Society does not, of course, always recognize or accept that individual needs give rise to social problems.
Brown, Muriel & Payne Sarah Introduction to Social Administration in Britain (1990)
The act specifically recognized the government 's obligation to ensure "maximum Indian participation" in the management of federal policy in these areas.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
The USA has this power anyway but wants Western governments to recognize it and to accept it politically.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
Once the problems are recognized and society accepts some degree of commitment in the battle against social evils then, naturally, public expenditure is bound to rise.
Brown, Muriel & Payne Sarah Introduction to Social Administration in Britain (1990)
In other languages
recognize
British English: recognize /ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz/ VERB
If you recognize someone or something, you know who or what they are, because you have seen or heard them before or because they have been described to you.
The receptionist recognized him at once.
American English: recognize
Arabic: يَتَعَرَّفُ على
Brazilian Portuguese: reconhecer
Chinese: 认可
Croatian: prepoznati
Czech: poznat známého
Danish: genkende
Dutch: herkennen
European Spanish: reconocer identificar
Finnish: tunnistaa tuntea
French: reconnaître
German: erkennen
Greek: αναγνωρίζω
Italian: riconoscere
Japanese: 分かる
Korean: 알아보다
Norwegian: kjenne igjen
Polish: rozpoznać
European Portuguese: reconhecer
Romanian: a recunoaște
Russian: узнавать
Latin American Spanish: reconocer identificar
Swedish: känna igen
Thai: จำได้
Turkish: tanımak
Ukrainian: впізнавати
Vietnamese: nhận ra
Chinese translation of 'recognize'
recognize
(ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz)
vt
[person, place, voice]认(認)出 (rènchū)
[sign, symptom]识(識)别(別) (shíbié)
[problem, need]承认(認) (chéngrèn)
(= accept validity of)
[qualifications]认(認)可 (rènkě)
[government]承认(認) (chéngrèn)
(= show appreciation of)[achievement]认(認)可 (rènkě)