recognize

especially British, rec·og·nise

[rek-uhg-nahyz]

verb (used with object)

recognized, recognizing 

1. to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc..

   He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.

2. to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics.

   I recognized him from the description.

   They recognized him as a fraud.

3. to perceive as existing or true; realize.

   to be the first to recognize a fact.

   Synonyms: concede, grant, understand, appreciate, acknowledge

4. to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time.

   The Speaker recognized the congressman from Maine.

5. to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit.

   The United States promptly recognized Israel.

6. to acknowledge or accept formally a specified factual or legal situation.

   to recognize a successful revolutionary regime as the de facto government of the country.

7. to acknowledge or treat as valid.

   to recognize a claim.

8. to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.

9. to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.

10. Law.,  to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.

11. Biochemistry, Immunology.,  to bind with, cleave, or otherwise react to (another substance) as a result of fitting its molecular shape or a portion of its shape.

recognize

/ ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to perceive (a person, creature, or thing) to be the same as or belong to the same class as something previously seen or known; know again

2. to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc)

   to recognize necessity

3. to give formal acknowledgment of the status or legality of (a government, an accredited representative, etc)

4. to grant (a person) the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc

5. to give a token of thanks for (a service rendered, etc)

6. to make formal acknowledgment of (a claim, etc)

7. to show approval or appreciation of (something good or pleasing)

8. to acknowledge or greet (a person), as when meeting by chance

9. (intr) to enter into a recognizance

Other Word Forms

• recognizable adjective
• recognizability noun
• recognizably adverb
• recognizer noun
• nonrecognized adjective
• prerecognize verb (used with object)
• quasi-recognized adjective
• unrecognizable adjective
• unrecognizably adverb
• unrecognized adjective
• unrecognizing adjective
• well-recognized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recognize¹

First recorded in 1425–75; recogn(ition) ( def. ) + -ize ( def. ); replacing late Middle English racunnysen, recognisen, from Old French reconuiss-, stem of reconuistre, from Latin recognōscere, equivalent to re- re- ( def. ) + cognōscere “to know ¹ ( def. ) ”; cognition ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of recognize¹

C15: from Latin recognoscere to know again, from _re- + cognoscere to know, ascertain

Example Sentences

He’d always been enamored with the history at USC, and at Georgia Southern, he recognized a similar pride in the past.

From Los Angeles Times

Another could be whether or not Democratic candidates are willing to recognize Israel’s war as a genocide, something on which the party’s constituents increasingly agree.

From Salon

People often don’t recognize me because I often wear wigs.

From Los Angeles Times

Then there’s Sade’s “Young Lion,” a tolling piano ballad in which the famous soul singer asks her son to forgive her for not recognizing his gender identity earlier than she did.

From Los Angeles Times

These elements can recognize multiple parts of the virus, including ones that don’t change, enabling significant protection against new variants.

From Salon

Related Words

• admit 
• agree 
• allow 
• appreciate 
• grant 
• honor 
• make 
• perceive 
• realize 
• respect 
• sanction 
• see