distinguish

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #13327

Meanings

1

verb
To recognize the difference between two or more things.

Young children often find it hard to distinguish left from right.
2

verb
To be the feature that makes someone or something different from others.

Its bright red feathers distinguish this bird from all the others.
3

verb
To do something so well that you become respected or famous (often 'distinguish oneself').

The soldier distinguished himself in combat and received a medal.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to recognize the difference... differentiate discerntell apart

2 verb · to be the feature that... mark separate

Word family

Forms distinguishesdistinguishing

Derived forms counterdistinguishdistinguishabilitydistinguishable distinguisheddistinguisherdistinguishingdistinguishmentdistinguishnessinterdistinguishmisdistinguishredistinguishsubdistinguish

Related forms contradistinguish distinct distinction distinctive extinguish

Etymology

From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di-, dis- (“apart”) + stinguere, related to English stink. Compare extinguish.

distingwen Middle English distinguer Old French distinguo Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# distinguish

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 13327

## Meanings
1. To recognize the difference between two or more things.
2. To be the feature that makes someone or something different from others.
3. To do something so well that you become respected or famous (often 'distinguish oneself').

## Examples
- Young children often find it hard to distinguish left from right.
- Its bright red feathers distinguish this bird from all the others.
- The soldier distinguished himself in combat and received a medal.

## Derived Forms
- counterdistinguish
- distinguishability
- distinguishable
- distinguished
- distinguisher
- distinguishing
- distinguishment
- distinguishness
- interdistinguish
- misdistinguish
- redistinguish
- subdistinguish

## Related Forms
- contradistinguish
- distinct
- distinction
- distinctive
- extinguish

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: distingwen
- Root: distinguer
- Root: distinguo

## Etymology
From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di-, dis- (“apart”) + stinguere, related to English stink. Compare extinguish.

## AI Etymology
Distinguish comes from Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di-, dis- (“apart”) + stinguere, related to English stink. Compare extinguish. In current use, the main senses are “To recognize the difference between two or more things” and “To be the feature that makes someone or something different from others”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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