recognize

UK: /ˈrɛkəgnaɪz/ US: /ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪz/ ,(rek′əg nīz′)

Inflections of 'recognize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

recognizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

recognizing

v pres p (US & UK)

recognized

v past (US & UK)

recognized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rec•og•nize /ˈrɛkəgˌnaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -nized, -niz•ing. 

1. to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.:
   I recognized my old car.
2. to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics:
   to recognize a swindler.
3. to perceive or accept as existing, true, or valid:
   She was able to recognize the problem.
4. to grant official permission to speak:
   The chair recognizes the new delegate.
5. Government to accept formally as something entitled to treatment as a political unit:
   The UN formally recognized the territory.
6. to show appreciation of:
   Today we recognize your great achievements.

rec•og•niz•a•ble /ˌrɛkəgˈnaɪzəbəl/  adj. See -gnos-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rec•og•nize  (rek′əg nīz′), v.t., -nized, -niz•ing. 

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

Also,[esp. Brit.,] rec′og•nise′. 

• Latin recognōscere, equivalent. to re- re- + cognōscere to know¹; see cognition
• Old French reconuiss-, stem of reconuistre
• 1425–75; recogn(ition) + -ize; replacing late Middle English racunnysen, recognisen

rec•og•niz•a•ble  (rek′əg nī′zə bəl, rek′əg nī′-), adj.  rec′og•niz′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
rec′og•niz′a•bly, adv. 
rec′og•niz′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. acknowledge, appreciate, understand, grant, concede.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

recognize, recognise / ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz/ verb (transitive)

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

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin recognoscere to know again, from re- + cognoscere to know, ascertain

ˈrecogˌnizable, ˈrecogˌnisable adjective

ˌrecogˌnizaˈbility, ˌrecogˌnisaˈbility noun

ˈrecogˌnizably, ˈrecogˌnisably adverb

ˈrecogˌnizer, ˈrecogˌniser noun