# recognized

/ˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪzd/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. to identify from memory

verb · CEFR A2

to know who someone is or what something is because you have seen or heard them before.

For teachers: to identify a person or thing from previous encounter or knowledge.

- I recognized my old school friend immediately, even though we hadn't met in years.
- The witness recognized the suspect from a photograph shown during the initial police investigation, despite the passage of several months since the incident.

### 2. to officially accept

verb · CEFR B1

to officially accept that something is real, true, or legal.

For teachers: to acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of something in an official capacity.

- The government finally recognized the small island as an independent country.
- The university recognized the professional qualifications obtained abroad, allowing the candidate to bypass several introductory modules in the master's programme.

### 3. to show appreciation

verb · CEFR B2

to give someone praise or an award for the good work they have done.

For teachers: to show official appreciation or reward for a person's contribution or achievement.

- She was recognized for her thirty years of service to the local hospital.
- The committee recognized his groundbreaking research in molecular biology by awarding him the prestigious annual science prize.

### 4. widely known or respected

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

known by many people or officially respected as being good or important.

For teachers: widely known, acknowledged, or respected for a particular quality or achievement.

- He is a recognized expert in the field of ancient history.
- As a recognized authority on international maritime law, her testimony was considered pivotal to the outcome of the tribunal.

## Examples

- I recognized my old teacher at the supermarket today.
- The government finally recognized the small island nation as an independent state after years of diplomatic pressure.
- Although the software failed to identify the specific user, it recognized the unique patterns of the encrypted file and allowed the transfer to proceed.

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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.