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to distinguish
01
to recognize and mentally separate two things, people, etc.
Transitive: to distinguish between two things or people | to distinguish sb/sth from sb/sth
Examples
The detective could distinguish the authentic painting from the clever forgery.
She could easily distinguish between identical twins by their personalities.
02
to perceive or identify someone or something with clarity
Transitive: to distinguish a shape or sound
Examples
In the fog, I could barely distinguish the shapes of the trees.
From a distance, it was hard to distinguish the mountain peaks against the cloudy sky.
03
to be the distinctive feature or characteristic between two things, people, etc.
Transitive: to distinguish sb/sth from others
Examples
The bright red color distinguishes this car from the others in the lot.
The unique design of the building distinguishes it from others in the city.
04
to sort or divide things into different groups based on their features or qualities
Transitive: to distinguish sb/sth
Examples
Scientists distinguish species by examining their genetic traits.
The art curator distinguished paintings by style, organizing the gallery accordingly.
05
to make something conspicuous or noteworthy by discerning it
Transitive: to distinguish sb/sth
Examples
The artist distinguished the main character by using bold colors in the painting.
He distinguished himself at the competition by finishing first.
Lexical Tree
distinguishable
distinguished
distinguish
