Identifying: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when determining the identity of something or someone, often through detailed observation or analysis.

• She spent hours identifying different species of birds in the forest
• The police were quick in identifying the suspect

Used when you know or remember something or someone because you have seen, heard, or met them before.

• She had a hard time recognizing her old friend after so many years
• The computer software is good at recognizing faces

Used when noticing or recognizing differences between similar things or people.

• He had trouble distinguishing between the identical twins
• This scent is hard to distinguish from others

Used in more casual or informal situations to mean seeing or noticing someone or something, often unexpectedly or among others.

• I had trouble spotting my dog in the crowded park
• He was excellent at spotting errors in the document

Used in casual contexts to mean selecting or choosing something or someone from a group based on specific characteristics.

• She was picking out the ripest apples from the basket
• He had a keen eye for picking out fake antiques

Use when determining the identity or nature of something or someone.

• She had trouble identifying the species of the bird.
• The police are identifying the suspects involved in the robbery.

Use when acknowledging or identifying someone or something using cognitive or perceptual processes. Often used in terms of facial recognition or pattern recognition.

• Facial recognition technology is used at the airport for quicker identification.
• He received wide recognition for his contribution to the project.

Use when verifying the authenticity of something, often related to security or access.

• Two-factor authentication is required to access the account.
• The document underwent rigorous authentication procedures.

Use when confirming the accuracy or truth of something. Often applies to data, facts, or credentials.

• Verification of the applicant’s qualifications took several days.
• The system requires multiple verifications before approval.

Use when organizing or categorizing items or information into groups or classes.

• The library uses the Dewey Decimal System for classification of books.
• The scientist spent months on the classification of the new plant species.