distinguish
verb
dis·tin·guish di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish 
distinguished; distinguishing; distinguishes
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 that distinguishes him from other candidates
b
: to separate into kinds, classes, or categories
distinguish words by their part of speech
c
: to make noteworthy or remarkable : to give prominence or distinction (see distinction sense 4) to
distinguished themselves as pioneers of hip-hop
d
: characterize
recipes distinguished by simplicity
3
a
: discern
distinguished a light in the distance
could barely distinguish them in the fog
b
: to single out : take special notice of
intransitive verb
: to perceive a difference
distinguish between right and wrong
distinguishability
di-ˌstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun distinguishable
di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-bəl
adjective distinguishably
di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wi-shə-blē
adverb 
Synonyms
- difference
- differentiate
- discern
- discriminate
- secern
- separate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Edwards would have liked the researchers to distinguish between long Covid and MIS-C, a rare but serious condition that can also follow a case of Covid-19 and causes similar symptoms in the same window of time. 
Jen Christensen, CNN, 5 Aug. 2022 As of now, its system is unable to distinguish between the two. Phil Mccausland, NBC News, 29 July 2022 The ecosystem needs the media’s critical eye to help distinguish between real innovations and projects that simply blow smoke and entice speculative activity. Miller Whitehouse-levine, Fortune, 6 July 2022 In Ruan’s case before the Supreme Court, advocates were asking the court to distinguish between criminal behavior and medical errors made in good faith. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 30 June 2022 Clear Space Force Station has a new $1.5 billion radar to distinguish between types of missile debris in the upper atmosphere. Dan Zak, Washington Post, 9 June 2022 Other business leaders would be wise to similarly distinguish between bad news…and very bad news. Edward Segal, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2021 Warnock, no longer a political newcomer, is trying to distinguish himself from a relatively unpopular president who once campaigned for him. Bill Barrow And Jeff Amy, al, 27 Aug. 2022 Warnock, no longer a political newcomer, is trying to distinguish himself from an unpopular president who once campaigned for him. Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 27 Aug. 2022 See More
Jen Christensen, CNN, 5 Aug. 2022 As of now, its system is unable to distinguish between the two. Phil Mccausland, NBC News, 29 July 2022 The ecosystem needs the media’s critical eye to help distinguish between real innovations and projects that simply blow smoke and entice speculative activity. Miller Whitehouse-levine, Fortune, 6 July 2022 In Ruan’s case before the Supreme Court, advocates were asking the court to distinguish between criminal behavior and medical errors made in good faith. Howard Koplowitz | Hkoplowitz@al.com, al, 30 June 2022 Clear Space Force Station has a new $1.5 billion radar to distinguish between types of missile debris in the upper atmosphere. Dan Zak, Washington Post, 9 June 2022 Other business leaders would be wise to similarly distinguish between bad news…and very bad news. Edward Segal, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2021 Warnock, no longer a political newcomer, is trying to distinguish himself from a relatively unpopular president who once campaigned for him. Bill Barrow And Jeff Amy, al, 27 Aug. 2022 Warnock, no longer a political newcomer, is trying to distinguish himself from an unpopular president who once campaigned for him. Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News, 27 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
alteration of Middle English distinguen, from Anglo-French distinguer, from Latin distinguere, literally, to separate by pricking, from dis- + -stinguere (akin to Latin instigare to urge on) — more at stick
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing distinguish
Kids Definition
distinguish
verb
dis·tin·guish di-ˈstiŋ-gwish
distinguished; distinguishing
1
: to recognize one thing from others by some mark or quality
He distinguished the sound of the piano in the orchestra.
2
: to hear or see clearly
You can't distinguish her face in this photo.
3
: to know the difference
Can you distinguish between right and wrong?
4
: to set apart as different or special
She distinguished herself by heroic actions.
Legal Definition
distinguish
transitive verb
dis·tin·guish
: to identify or explain differences in or from
distinguished the cases on factual grounds
distinguishing 1 of 2
adjective
as in characteristic
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group a novice birder still learning the distinguishing features of various finches Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- characteristic
- distinctive
- distinct
- identifying
- typical
- peculiar
- unmistakable
- discriminating
- diagnostic
- individual
- proper
- symptomatic
- diagnostical
- classic
- identifiable
- common
- general
- idiosyncratic
- usual
- pronounced
- specific
- generic
- particular
- special
- model
- paradigmatic
- normal
- especial
- regular
- archetypal
- archetypical
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- atypical
- uncharacteristic
- untypical
- nontypical
distinguishing
2 of 2verb
1
as in differentiating
to understand or point out the difference in even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds Synonyms & Similar Words
- differentiating
- discriminating
- separating
- discerning
- differencing
- understanding
- secerning
- comprehending
- dividing
- knowing
- demarcating
- contradistinguishing
- severing
- grasping
- setting off
- parting
- marking (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mistaking
- confusing
- mixing (up)
- mingling
- confounding
- lumping (together)
2
as in characterizing
to be an important feature of a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity Synonyms & Similar Words
- characterizing
- differentiating
- marking
- individualizing
- customizing
- particularizing
3
as in identifying
to find out or establish the identity of learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra Synonyms & Similar Words
- identifying
- finding
- pinpointing
- locating
- recognizing
- determining
- diagnosing
- fingering
- IDing
- investigating
- ID'ing
- examining
- spotting
- disclosing
- discovering
- putting one's finger on
- revealing
- inspecting
- singling (out)
- scrutinizing
- noticing
- checking
- placing
- picking out
- observing
- betraying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- concealing
- disguising
- hiding
- camouflaging
- simulating
- feigning
- counterfeiting
- shamming
4
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist Synonyms & Similar Words
- noticing
- spotting
- seeing
- regarding
- eyeing
- perceiving
- remarking
- discerning
- noting
- viewing
- eying
- observing
- identifying
- sighting
- spying
- espying
- catching
- watching
- witnessing
- beholding
- descrying
- considering
- marking
- examining
- getting a load of
- surveying
- scanning
- looking (at)
- picking out
- studying
- inspecting
- setting eyes on
- scrutinizing
- laying eyes on
- heeding
- glimpsing
- making out
- minding
- picking up
- attending (to)
- glancing (at)
- peering (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignoring
- disregarding
- neglecting
- missing
- overlooking
- overpassing
- passing over
5
as in classifying
to arrange or assign according to type on the exam we were asked to distinguish the specimens by acidity Synonyms & Similar Words
- classifying
- ranking
- grouping
- separating
- relegating
- identifying
- distributing
- categorizing
- recognizing
- grading
- placing
- typing
- classing
- sorting
- codifying
- listing
- compartmentalizing
- ranging
- assorting
- digesting
- organizing
- referring
- pegging
- compartmenting
- cataloging
- filing
- ordering
- systematizing
- disposing
- breaking down
- alphabetizing
- culling
- arraying
- indexing
- marshaling
- pigeonholing
- clustering
- winnowing
- sifting
- reclassifying
- clumping
- cataloguing
- drawing up
- marshalling
- screening
- shelving
- regrouping
- sieving
- setting
- colligating
- recategorizing
- subcategorizing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lumping
- confusing
- scrambling
- disarranging
- jumbling
- mixing (up)
- misclassifying
- mistyping
- missorting
- mis-sorting