# differentiate

/ˌdɪfɝˈɛnʃiˌeɪt/ (US) · /dˌɪfəɹˈɛnʃɪˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/differentiate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to tell things apart

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to recognize or show the difference between two or more things.

For teachers: to identify or constitute the difference between two or more entities. Often used with the preposition 'between'.

- It is sometimes hard to differentiate between the two types of birds because they look so similar.
- The software is designed to differentiate between legitimate user activity and potential security threats in real time.

Usage: Commonly used in the pattern 'differentiate between A and B' or 'differentiate A from B'.

### 2. to make unique

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to make something different from other similar things.

For teachers: to create a distinction that makes one thing different from others of its kind.

- The company added new features to differentiate its phone from the competition.
- The brand sought to differentiate its product line by emphasizing sustainable sourcing and ethical manufacturing processes.

### 3. biological development

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

when cells or parts of a living thing change to do a special job.

For teachers: to undergo a process of development where unspecialized cells or tissues become specialized in form or function.

- As the baby grows, its cells differentiate into skin, bone, and muscle.
- During embryonic development, stem cells differentiate into various specialized cell types in response to specific chemical signals.

### 4. mathematical calculation

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to find the rate at which a value changes in math.

For teachers: to calculate the derivative or differential of a mathematical function.

- In the second half of the exam, students had to differentiate several complex equations.
- To find the acceleration of the particle, you must first differentiate the velocity function with respect to time.

### 5. educational method

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to teach the same lesson in different ways to help every student learn.

For teachers: to tailor instruction to meet the individual needs, styles, or ability levels of different learners within the same classroom.

- The teacher tried to differentiate her lessons so that both fast and slow learners could succeed.
- Effective educators differentiate instruction by providing tiered assignments that challenge students according to their current proficiency levels.

## Examples

- It is hard to differentiate between the two types of birds.
- The company tries to differentiate its products from those of its competitors by offering better customer service.
- In a crowded marketplace, a brand must differentiate itself through consistent quality and a unique visual identity to maintain long-term consumer loyalty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.