distinguish

distinguish — verb

1. to recognise the way one person, thing, or idea differs from another; or to be t

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to recognise the way one person, thing, or idea differs from another; or to be the quality that makes that difference clear.

Example

Sana found it hard to distinguish real silk from the cheaper synthetic fabric.

distinguish + noun + from + noun

What distinguishes Gabriel's paintings is the bold use of colour and light.

distinguishing feature as subject

Common collocations
  • distinguish clearly
  • distinguish easily
  • hard to distinguish
  • distinguishing feature
  • distinguishing characteristic
  • distinguishing mark
Synonyms
  • differentiate

    more formal; implies detailed analysis of differences

  • tell apart

    informal, everyday equivalent; mainly for physical appearance

  • set apart

    focuses on what makes someone or something exceptional

Antonyms
  • confuse

    to wrongly think two things are the same

  • lump together

    informal; to treat different things as one group

Grammar Patterns

distinguish + noun + from + noun

distinguish + between + noun + and + noun

Usage Note

This sense works both transitively (distinguish X from Y) and with between (distinguish between X and Y). The between construction is slightly more common in British English. Sense 1 is the only sense that pairs with distinguishing feature, distinguishing characteristic, or distinguishing mark.

Common Mistakes

I cannot distinguish both colours.
I cannot distinguish between the two colours.
when naming two items, distinguish needs from or between to link them.
Her honesty distinguishes from others.
Her honesty distinguishes her from others.
a direct object (or reflexive pronoun) is required before from.

2. to do something with such skill, courage, or excellence that you are noticed and

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to do something with such skill, courage, or excellence that you are noticed and respected for it.

Example

Kian distinguished himself as a talented pianist at the national competition.

distinguish + oneself + as + noun

Élise distinguished herself during the crisis by staying calm and directing the team.

distinguish + oneself + by + gerund

Common collocations
  • distinguish oneself as
  • distinguish oneself by
  • distinguish oneself through
  • distinguish oneself in the field of
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

distinguish + oneself + as/in/by/for + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Almost always used reflexively — the object must be a reflexive pronoun (oneself, myself, herself, themselves, etc.). Never used without an object. The subject is always a person or group of people, never an inanimate thing.

Common Mistakes

She distinguished in the marathon.
She distinguished herself in the marathon.
this sense requires a reflexive pronoun after distinguish.
His company distinguished in the market.
His company stood out in the market.
this sense does not work with a company or inanimate subject as the agent.

3. to manage to see, hear, or recognise something, especially when it is difficult

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to manage to see, hear, or recognise something, especially when it is difficult because of distance, darkness, noise, or poor quality.

Example

Through the thick fog, Zola could just distinguish the outline of a lighthouse.

could + distinguish + noun (visual, low visibility)

Abigail could not distinguish the words of the song over the loud crowd noise.

could not + distinguish + noun (auditory, noise)

Common collocations
  • barely distinguish
  • just distinguish
  • could distinguish
  • could not distinguish
  • distinguish in the dark
  • distinguish through the noise
Synonyms
  • make out

    informal equivalent; very common in everyday speech

  • discern

    more formal; suggests careful and effortful perception

  • detect

    broader; can apply to smells, sounds, or scientific measurements

Antonyms
  • miss

    to fail to see or hear something

  • overlook

    to miss something that was visible or audible

Grammar Patterns

can/could + distinguish + noun

be able to + distinguish + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used with can, could, or be able to. The perceptual difficulty — distance, darkness, noise, poor quality — should be stated or clearly implied; without this context the sentence may sound unnatural.

Common Mistakes

I distinguished a sound in the dark.
I could distinguish a sound in the dark.
this sense requires a modal verb (can, could, be able to) to express the effort or ability.
She distinguished him at the party.
She could distinguish him across the crowded room.
without a clear difficulty factor, the sentence sounds odd; add distance, noise, or other obstruction.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Distinguish, differentiate, and discriminate all involve noticing or creating differences, but they differ in range and tone. Distinguish is the most general verb — you can distinguish between colours, ideas, or people simply by noticing the difference. Differentiate is slightly more formal and often implies a detailed analysis of differences, as in 'scientists differentiate between two species.' Discriminate has a narrower, often technical use meaning to recognise fine gradations — a wine taster discriminates between subtle flavours — but it is also associated with unfair treatment, so learners should use distinguish for neutral contexts. Tell apart is the informal everyday equivalent: 'the twins look so alike I cannot tell them apart.' Set apart focuses on what makes someone or something exceptional: 'her kindness sets her apart from the others.'

differentiate ↗discriminate ↗tell apartset apart ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be able to distinguish
  • fail to distinguish
  • hard to distinguish
  • impossible to distinguish

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Distinguish entered English through French from the Latin verb distinguere, meaning 'to separate between' or 'to prick apart.' The Latin word was formed from dis- (meaning 'apart') and stinguere (meaning 'to prick' or 'to extinguish'). The original idea of marking off by pricking evolved into the broader sense of noticing differences. By the 16th century, the reflexive use — 'distinguish oneself' — extended the meaning to making oneself stand out through remarkable achievement.