recognizable

recognizable — adjective

1. able to be known or identified as a particular person or thing, especially becau

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

able to be known or identified as a particular person or thing, especially because of a noticeable feature or quality

Example

Kian was still recognizable despite the thick beard he had grown.

recognizable + despite + [obstacle]

The old market's smell was immediately recognizable to Antonia when she returned.

passive: was recognizable to [person]

Common collocations
  • easily recognizable
  • instantly recognizable
  • immediately recognizable
  • barely recognizable
  • hardly recognizable
  • still recognizable
  • recognizable by [feature]
  • recognizable to [person]
  • recognizable as [identity]
Synonyms
  • distinctive

    emphasises qualities that make something stand out, not necessarily from prior knowledge

  • identifiable

    more neutral and factual; can be identified but not necessarily with ease

  • noticeable

    broader — anything that draws attention, with or without prior familiarity

  • unmistakable

    stronger than 'recognizable'; impossible to confuse with anything else

Antonyms
  • unrecognizable

    changed or hidden so much that it cannot be known or identified

  • inconspicuous

    not easily noticed or seen, rather than not known from memory

Grammar Patterns

be + recognizable to + [person]

be + recognizable by + [feature]

be + [adverb] + recognizable

Usage Note

Often modified by adverbs of degree such as 'easily', 'instantly', 'barely', or 'hardly'. Frequently followed by 'by' (to indicate the identifying feature) or 'to' (to indicate the person who does the recognising): 'recognizable by its red flowers', 'recognizable to anyone who grew up in the area'.

Common Mistakes

This building is recognizable for its red roof.
This building is recognizable by its red roof.
Use 'by' to introduce the feature that helps identification, not 'for'.
He was recognizable as his old friend.
He was recognizable to his old friend.
Use 'to' + person to indicate who does the recognising; use 'as' only to state the identity ('recognizable as the former champion').

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While all four words describe something that can be perceived or known, they differ in emphasis. 'Recognizable' focuses on recalling from past experience — you can connect what you perceive to something you already know. 'Distinctive' highlights the qualities that make something stand out from others, whether or not you have encountered it before. 'Identifiable' is more neutral: the thing can be determined or named, but not necessarily with ease. 'Noticeable' is the broadest, referring to anything that draws attention. 'Unmistakable' is the strongest — something so clear it cannot be confused with anything else. For example, a singer's voice may be recognizable (you know who it is), distinctive (it sounds different from others), and unmistakable (you'd never confuse it with anyone else's voice).

distinctive ↗identifiable ↗noticeable ↗unmistakable

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English around the late 1600s by adding the suffix '-able' (meaning 'capable of being') to the verb 'recognize'. 'Recognize' itself comes from Old French 'reconoistre', from Latin 'recognoscere' — 're-' (again) and 'cognoscere' (to know, to learn). 'Cognoscere' is also the root of 'cognition' and 'acquaintance'.