# distinguish

/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ (US) · /dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to tell apart

verb · CEFR B2

to notice or understand the difference between two things.

For teachers: to perceive or identify a difference between two or more entities. Often used with 'between' or 'from'.

- At this distance, it is hard to distinguish the real diamond from the glass one.
- Young children often find it difficult to distinguish between their own imaginative play and reality, especially when they are tired.

Usage: Commonly takes the preposition 'between' or 'from'.

### 2. to see clearly

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to see, hear, or recognize something clearly when it is difficult to do so.

For teachers: to perceive a specific stimulus clearly through the senses, typically against a background of noise or visual clutter.

- Through the thick fog, we could just distinguish the shape of a tall building.
- The witness struggled to distinguish the suspect's facial features in the grainy security footage provided by the police.

Usage: Often used with 'can' or 'could' to describe ability.

### 3. to make yourself famous

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to do something so well that people notice you as being special or better than others.

For teachers: to make oneself prominent or worthy of special recognition through specific achievements. Reflexive use is standard.

- She distinguished herself as a brave reporter during the war.
- The young scientist distinguished himself early in his career by publishing a groundbreaking paper on renewable energy.

Usage: Almost always used reflexively (distinguish oneself).

## Examples

- It is hard to distinguish the twins because they look exactly alike.
- A trained chef can easily distinguish between fresh herbs and dried ones just by their scent.
- The legal system must carefully distinguish between accidental harm and intentional malice to ensure that the punishment fits the specific nature of the crime committed.

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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.