distinguish
Formsdistinguishes, distinguishing, distinguished
- 1To recognize someone or something as different from others by the features that set it apart.
Trained tasters can distinguish dozens of subtle flavors in a single wine.
The software distinguishes spam messages from legitimate email automatically.
Similardifferentiate, discern, discriminate, tell
Oppositeconfuse
Note
At root the word means to mark off. It comes from Latin distinguere, built from dis- "apart" and stinguere, the same element behind extinguish. It usually pairs two things with from: tasters distinguish one wine from another. The phrase as distinguished from sets up a contrast, as in "scientific, as distinguished from purely literary, work." Differentiate is its close synonym, and confuse is what happens when you fail to do it.
- 2To make out someone or something clearly or distinctly, by sight or another sense.
In the dim light she could just distinguish the outline of the mountains.
Listeners could distinguish each instrument clearly in the well-mixed recording.
Similardiscern
- 3To set someone apart as better than or different from others through notable achievements.
She hoped to distinguish herself in the design competition.
His early novels distinguished him as a major literary voice.
Oppositedisgrace
Note
This meaning is usually turned back on its subject: you distinguish yourself, as the soldier distinguished himself in combat. The reflexive pronoun is what makes it mean earning distinction rather than telling things apart. It can also take another person as its object when someone's work does the setting apart, as in his novels distinguished him.
- 4To confer an honor or mark of distinction upon someone.
The society chose to distinguish her with lifetime membership.
The crown distinguished several officers for their valor in battle.
Similarhonor, decorate, recognize
Note
The honor comes from outside, and with usually names it: a soldier is distinguished with a medal. That separates it from earning distinction oneself, where the subject's own deeds do the work. In this meaning someone else does the honoring, so the passive comes naturally.
Less common meaning
- 5To cause one thing to differ from another; to render distinct.
For who diſtinguiſheth thee?
1749, The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Newly reviſed, and corrected according to the Clementin Edition of the…Note
Causing a difference rather than noticing one is an obsolete use of the verb. The 1749 New Testament asks "For who distinguisheth thee?", meaning who has made you different from others. In modern writing it sounds archaic. To cause a difference today, set apart or differentiate is the safer choice.
Practice
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Origin
This word comes from Latin 'distinguere' (to separate, divide, or mark off), built from 'dis-' (apart) plus 'stinguere'. It passed through Old French 'distinguer' and Middle English 'distingwen' into English, and is related to 'extinguish'.