ENGLISH
REFERENCE

identifying

v. · adj. · n.
US //aɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪɪŋ// UK //aɪdˈɛntɪfˌaɪɪŋ// iden·ti·fy·ing
  1. 1 recognizing or naming (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    recognizing someone or something and saying who or what they are.

    the present participle of 'identify', used to describe the process of establishing the identity of a person or object.

    Example

    The witness spent hours identifying the suspect from a group of photos.

    Example

    Identifying the specific chemical markers in the sample required several rounds of sophisticated laboratory testing.

    Usage

    often followed by a direct object or a 'that' clause.
  2. 2 distinguishing (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing a feature that helps you recognize a person or thing.

    serving to establish or distinguish identity; providing a unique characteristic for recognition.

    Example

    The bird has a bright red patch on its wing as an identifying mark.

    Example

    The detective looked for identifying features, such as scars or tattoos, that would help confirm the victim's name.

    Usage

    usually placed before the noun it modifies.
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  1. 3 the process of identification (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the act of finding out who someone is or what something is.

    the gerund form used as a noun to denote the action or process of establishing identity.

    Example

    Identifying the problem is the first step toward fixing it.

    Example

    The rapid identifying of the virus strain allowed the medical team to deploy the correct vaccine immediately.

    Usage

    functions as the subject or object of a sentence.

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