- when intr, followed by between or among:
to make, show, or recognize a difference or differences (between or among); differentiate (between) to be a distinctive feature of; characterize to make out; perceive to mark for a special honour or title to make (oneself) noteworthy to classify; categorize
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis•tin•guish /dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ/USA pronunciation
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to mark off as different;
show a difference:[~ + object + from + object]His height distinguishes him from the other boys. - to recognize as distinct or different: [~ + between + object]I couldn't distinguish between some of the French vowels.[~ + object + from + object]Can you distinguish right from wrong?
- to perceive or sense clearly by the senses;
recognize:[~ + object]Without my glasses I can't distinguish certain signs on the road. - to set apart as different;
characterize:[~ + object]Her Italian accent distinguishes her. - to make prominent or eminent:[~ + oneself]He distinguished himself in the arts.
dis•tin•guish
(di sting′gwish),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
dis•tin′guish•a•ble, adj.
dis•tin′guish•a•ble•ness, dis•tin′guish•a•bil′i•ty, n.
dis•tin′guish•a•bly, adv.
dis•tin′guish•er, n.
dis•tin′guish•ment, n.
- to mark off as different (often fol. by from or by):He was distinguished from the other boys by his height.
- to recognize as distinct or different;
recognize the salient or individual features or characteristics of:It is hard to distinguish her from her twin sister. - to perceive clearly by sight or other sense;
discern;
recognize:He could not distinguish many of the words. - to set apart as different;
be a distinctive characteristic of;
characterize:It is his Italian accent that distinguishes him. - to make prominent, conspicuous, or eminent:to distinguish oneself in battle.
- to divide into classes;
classify:Let us distinguish the various types of metaphor. - [Archaic.]to single out for or honor with special attention.
v.i.
- to indicate or show a difference (usually fol. by between).
- to recognize or note differences;
discriminate.
- Latin distinguere; see distinct
- Anglo-French, Middle French distinguer)
- extension, by -ish2, of Middle English disting(u)en (1555–65
dis•tin′guish•a•ble•ness, dis•tin′guish•a•bil′i•ty, n.
dis•tin′guish•a•bly, adv.
dis•tin′guish•er, n.
dis•tin′guish•ment, n.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Distinguish, differentiate, discriminate suggest an attempt to analyze characteristic features or qualities of things. To distinguish is to recognize the characteristic features belonging to a thing:to distinguish a light cruiser from a heavy cruiser.To discriminate is to perceive the particular, nice, or exact differences between things, to determine wherein these differences consist, and to estimate their significance:to discriminate prejudiced from unprejudiced testimony.To differentiate is to point out exactly and in detail the differences between (usually) two things:The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that it is hard to differentiate one from another.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged confuse.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'distinguish between' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
IFF
- am
- careful
- confuse
- demarcate
- differentiate
- everyone
- insight
- nuclear magnetic resonance
- person
- reality testing
- resolve
- sift
- tell apart
- tonic