# identifying

/aɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪɪŋ/ (US) · /aɪdˈɛntɪfˌaɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/identifying
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. recognizing or naming

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

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

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

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

### 3. the process of identification

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- Identifying the problem is the first step toward fixing it.
- 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.

## Examples

- She is identifying the best candidates for the job.
- The witness spent several hours at the police station identifying the suspect from a series of photographs.
- By identifying the specific genetic markers associated with the disease, researchers hope to develop targeted therapies that minimize side effects for the patient.

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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.