Distinguish Meaning
/dɪˈstɪŋ.ɡwɪʃ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.
verbTo see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
Sentence Examples
Can you distinguish between the two sounds?
She distinguished herself as a talented writer.
Vocabulary Challenge
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Can you ____ the original painting from the clever forgery?
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It had begun to take a leading place even in the days of the Ptolemies, and in scientific, as distinguished from purely literary work, it had assumed a position of primary importance early in the Christian era."
— 1922, De Lacy O'Leary, Arabic Thought and Its Place in History:
"The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier."
— 2012 March-April, Jeremy Bernstein, “A Palette of Particles”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 146:
"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 Scriptures (Douay–Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision), 1 Corinthians 4:7, page 317:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Can you ____ the original painting from the clever forgery?