Recognize Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
"Recognize" means to identify someone or something from having encountered them before or to acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of something. e.g., She didn't recognize her friend with the new haircut.
Table of Contents
Recognize Definitions
Recognize can mean to remember and identify.
He recognized the melody from his childhood.
To know to be something that has been perceived before
Recognize a face.
To know or identify from past experience or knowledge
Recognize hostility.
To perceive or show acceptance of the validity or reality of
Recognizes the concerns of the tenants.
To permit to address a meeting
The club's president recognized the new member.
To accept officially the national status of as a new government.
To show awareness of; approve of or appreciate
Recognize services rendered.
To admit the acquaintance of, as by salutation
Recognize an old friend with a cheerful greeting.
(Law) To enter into a recognizance.
(Biology) To exhibit recognition for (an antigen or a substrate, for example).
(transitive) To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
I recognised his face immediately, although his voice was different.
(transitive) To acknowledge the existence or legality of; to treat as valid or worthy of consideration.
The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognize Kosovo on Monday.
To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).
Slavery is widely recognized as immoral.
I recognize that my behaviour has been unacceptable.
(transitive) To realize or discover the nature of something; apprehend quality in.
(transitive) To show formal appreciation of, as with an award, commendation etc.
His services were recognized in a testimonial.
The soldier was recognized in dispatches.
(obsolete) To review; to examine again.
(obsolete) To reconnoiter.
(immunology) To have the property to bind to specific antigens.
To cognize again
To know again; to perceive the identity of, with a person or thing previously known; to recover or recall knowledge of.
Speak, vassal; recognize thy sovereign queen.
To avow knowledge of; to allow that one knows; to consent to admit, hold, or the like; to admit with a formal acknowledgment; as, to recognize an obligation; to recognize a consul.
To acknowledge acquaintance with, as by salutation, bowing, or the like.
To show appreciation of; as, to recognize services by a testimonial.
To review; to reëxamine.
To reconnoiter.
To enter an obligation of record before a proper tribunal; as, A B recognized in the sum of twenty dollars.
Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority;
The Crown Prince was acknowledged as the true heir to the throne
We do not recognize your gods
Be fully aware or cognizant of
Detect with the senses;
The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards
I can't make out the faces in this photograph
Perceive to be the same
Grant credentials to;
The Regents officially recognized the new educational institution
Recognize an academic degree
Express greetings upon meeting someone
Express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for;
We must acknowledge the kindness she showed towards us
Exhibit recognition for (an antigen or a substrate)
Show approval or appreciation of;
My work is not recognized by anybody!
The best student was recognized by the Dean
Recognize means to identify a person or thing previously seen.
He recognized his teacher in the crowd.
Recognize refers to acknowledging the truth or validity.
The court must recognize the new evidence.
Recognize can describe realizing the importance or quality of something.
They recognized her talent in singing.
Recognize pertains to officially accepting the status of something.
The country recognized the new government.
Recognize is used for showing appreciation or gratitude.
The award ceremony recognized the contributions of volunteers.
Recognize describes discerning or distinguishing something.
She could recognize the difference between the twins.
Recognize denotes giving acknowledgment or credit.
The organization recognized her efforts with an award.
Recognize involves perceiving something as familiar.
The dog recognized its owner's voice.
Recognize can refer to accepting the authority or status of something.
The school recognized the new club.
Recognize Snonyms
Realize
Become fully aware of (something) as a fact; understand clearly.
He realized the importance of being punctual.
Notice
Become aware of.
Did you notice the error on page three?
Identify
Establish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is.
She identified the man at the police lineup.
Detect
Discover or identify the presence or existence of.
The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
Acknowledge
Accept or admit the existence or truth of.
The government acknowledged the need for reform.
Discern
Perceive or recognize (something).
She could discern a figure in the darkness.
Appreciate
Recognize the full worth of.
She was beginning to appreciate the complexity of the issue.
Admit
Confess to be true or to be the case.
He admitted that he had made a mistake.
Comprehend
Grasp mentally; understand.
He struggled to comprehend the abstract concepts.
Distinguish
Recognize or treat (someone or something) as different.
It's important to distinguish between love and infatuation.
Recognize Idioms & Phrases
Recognize the effort
To acknowledge and appreciate the work someone has put in.
It's important to recognize the effort of your team members to keep them motivated.
Hard to recognize
Difficult to identify or acknowledge due to change or disguise.
After his long journey and trials, he was hard to recognize.
Recognize a familiar face
To identify someone one has seen or known before.
In the crowded room, she was relieved to recognize a familiar face.
Recognize one's own
To identify or acknowledge people or things that are part of one's group or category.
As a skilled artist, she can always recognize her own work.
Recognize the need
To acknowledge the necessity or requirement of something.
The government failed to recognize the need for urgent healthcare reform.
Recognize one's limits
To be aware of and acknowledge one's own limitations or boundaries.
It's important for athletes to recognize their limits to avoid injury.
Recognize a mistake
To admit or acknowledge an error or misjudgment.
The company's CEO publicly recognized a mistake in their strategy.
Recognize the truth
To accept or acknowledge the reality or validity of something.
Eventually, he had to recognize the truth about the situation.
Recognize the signs
To notice and understand indicators or symptoms of something.
As an experienced teacher, he could recognize the signs of student burnout.
Recognize an opportunity
To realize and acknowledge a chance for advancement or success.
She was quick to recognize an opportunity for career growth.
Recognize a pattern
To identify a repeated or consistent sequence in data, behavior, or events.
Analysts are trained to recognize patterns in market movements.
Slow to recognize
Taking a long time or being reluctant to acknowledge something.
He was slow to recognize the potential risks involved in the venture.
Recognize the challenges
To be aware of and acknowledge the difficulties faced in a situation.
The committee must recognize the challenges ahead in implementing the plan.
Recognize one's role
To understand and accept one's position or function in a particular situation or system.
As a team leader, it's crucial to recognize one's role in guiding others.
Fail to recognize
To overlook or not acknowledge something that should be noticed.
He failed to recognize the early warning signs of the problem.
Recognize authority
To acknowledge and respect someone's control or power.
The new recruits were taught to recognize authority.
Recognize a talent
To notice and acknowledge someone's skill or ability.
The music teacher was quick to recognize a talent in her young student.
Recognize the importance
To realize and acknowledge the significance or value of something.
She began to recognize the importance of taking time off for mental health.
Recognize a voice
To identify someone by their way of speaking.
Even after many years, he could still recognize her voice on the phone.
Recognize one's worth
To realize and appreciate one's own value or contribution.
After years of hard work, she began to recognize her worth in the organization.
Recognize Example Sentences
The teacher recognized his potential in math.
The children quickly recognized the tune of their favorite song.
She recognized the need for a break.
I didn't recognize you with your new haircut.
The bird seemed to recognize its feeder.
They recognized the landmark as they approached the city.
She recognized the error in the calculation.
He could recognize his mom's cooking by its smell.
They recognized the importance of saving the environment.
The fans recognized the celebrity despite her disguise.
The judges recognized her as the winner.
She was happy to recognize an old friend.
The artist was recognized for her innovative work.
He was recognized as the best player of the match.
He recognized the pattern in the puzzle.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in recognize?
There are three syllables in "recognize."
How do we divide recognize into syllables?
Recognize is divided into syllables as rec-og-nize.
How is recognize used in a sentence?
"She was able to recognize her friend from across the room."
What is the root word of recognize?
The root word is the Latin "recognoscere."
What is the third form of recognize?
The third form (past participle) is "recognized."
What is the singular form of recognize?
As a verb, "recognize" remains the same in both singular and plural subjects.
Why is it called recognize?
It is called "recognize" from the Latin "recognoscere," meaning "to know again, recall to mind," referring to the act of identifying someone or something previously seen or known.
What is the verb form of recognize?
The verb form is "recognize."
What is the first form of recognize?
The first form (present tense) is "recognize."
What is a stressed syllable in recognize?
The stressed syllable in "recognize" is "rec."
What is the second form of recognize?
The second form (simple past tense) is "recognized."
What is the plural form of recognize?
As a verb, "recognize" does not change form for plural subjects.
Is recognize an abstract noun?
"Recognize" is a verb and not a noun, so it cannot be an abstract noun.
What is the pronunciation of recognize?
Recognize is pronounced as /ˈrɛk.əɡ.naɪz/.
What part of speech is recognize?
"Recognize" is a verb.
What is another term for recognize?
Another term for "recognize" is "identify."
What is the opposite of recognize?
The opposite of "recognize" could be "disregard" or "ignore."
Is recognize a negative or positive word?
"Recognize" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Is the word recognize imperative?
"Recognize" can be used in the imperative form to give a command or instruction, e.g., "Recognize the contributions of your team."
Is the word recognize Gerund?
The gerund form of "recognize" is "recognizing," which functions as a noun.
Is recognize a countable noun?
"Recognize" is not a noun; it's a verb and therefore not countable.
Is recognize a collective noun?
No, "recognize" is not a noun and therefore cannot be a collective noun.
Is the recognize term a metaphor?
"Recognize" can be used metaphorically in contexts where identification or acknowledgment is implied rather than literal.
Is the word “recognize” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Recognize" is a verb and can have a direct object, e.g., "They recognize the achievement," but it is not used as a direct or indirect object itself.
Which determiner is used with recognize?
Determiners are not typically used directly with verbs like "recognize."
Which vowel is used before recognize?
Articles or vowels before verbs like "recognize" depend on the sentence structure, not the verb itself. For gerund or infinitive forms, "to recognize" or "recognizing," an article might precede.
Which preposition is used with recognize?
Prepositions like "as" or "by" can be used with "recognize," depending on the context, e.g., "recognize as important" or "recognized by their peers."
Which conjunction is used with recognize?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "recognize" in complex sentences.
Is recognize a noun or adjective?
"Recognize" is a verb, not a noun or adjective.
Is recognize an adverb?
No, "recognize" is not an adverb.
Is recognize a vowel or consonant?
The word "recognize" starts with the consonant "r."
Which article is used with recognize?
Articles are not typically used directly with verbs like "recognize." However, in the gerund form "recognizing," "the" can be used, e.g., "The recognizing of her efforts was overdue."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
