distinguish

/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/ · 3 syllables

Meaning

verb

1. mark as different
   “We distinguish several kinds of maple”
2. detect with the senses
   “The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards”
3. be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense
   “His modesty distinguishes him from his peers”
4. make conspicuous or noteworthy
5. identify as in botany or biology, for example

Synonyms for distinguish

• separate
• differentiate
• secern
• secernate
• severalize
• severalise
• tell
• tell apart
• spot
• recognize
• recognise
• discern
• pick out
• make out
• mark
• signalize
• signalise
• identify
• discover
• key
• key out
• describe
• name

Words that rhyme with distinguish

• extinguish