Word
recognize
Phoneticsrec·og·nize, stress on the first syllable
/ˈɹɛkəɡˌnaɪz/
UK spelling · recognise
Definitions
01to identify from memory
A2 · Elementary
v. to know who someone is or what something is because you have seen or heard them before.
v. to identify a person or thing from previous encounter or knowledge. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“I didn't recognize him at first because he had grown a beard.”
“Even after twenty years apart, she could still recognize his distinctive laugh from across a crowded room.”
02to accept as valid
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to officially accept that something is real, true, or legal.
v. to acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of an entity or claim.
Español:reconocer
“The government does not recognize the new passports issued by that country.”
“The international community was slow to recognize the sovereignty of the breakaway republic despite its established borders.”
Synonyms
03to show appreciation
B1 · Intermediate
v. to give someone praise or an award for the good work they have done.
v. to show formal appreciation or provide public credit for an achievement or service.
“The company recognized her long service with a special gold watch.”
“The charity gala was organized specifically to recognize the tireless efforts of the volunteers who worked through the crisis.”
04to realize a truth
B1 · Intermediate
v. to understand or notice a fact or a situation.
v. to apprehend or realize the nature or quality of a situation or fact.
“They finally recognized that the old system was no longer working.”
“Economists now recognize that the initial projections failed to account for the rapid shift in consumer behavior.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “recognize” in context.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin had rare recognizare (“to try by jury”).
From re- + cognize.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/recognize
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0