Recognizing: meaning, definitions and examples

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recognizing

[ˈrɛkəɡˌnʌɪzɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

mental process

Identifying someone or something from previous encounters or knowledge.

Synonyms

discern, distinguish, identify, perceive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
recognizing	Use this word when acknowledging or realizing something or someone you've encountered before. Often used in everyday conversation. She had trouble recognizing the old friend she hadn't seen in years. He is good at recognizing faces.
identify	This word fits when specifying or citing the identity of something or someone. It is often used in technical contexts. They used DNA to identify the suspect. Can you identify this type of bird?
distinguish	Use this word when identifying the differences between two or more items or concepts, often in a detailed or precise manner. He could distinguish between the twins by their voice alone. It's sometimes hard to distinguish truth from fiction.
discern	This word is suitable for situations involving careful observation to understand something that is not immediately clear. It has a more formal tone. She could discern the faint outline of the mountains through the fog. It's important to discern the facts from the rumors.
perceive	Appropriate for situations involving awareness or understanding through the senses or intuition. It may also imply subjective interpretation. He perceived a change in her attitude. People tend to perceive things differently based on their experiences.

Examples of usage

He had difficulty recognizing faces after the accident.
She couldn't recognize the song playing on the radio.
I instantly recognized his voice on the phone.
We need to work on recognizing patterns in the data.
The software is capable of recognizing speech patterns.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

official acknowledgment

Acknowledging the validity or legality of someone or something.

Synonyms

accept, acknowledge, admit, validate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
recognizing	Used when you identify something or someone by its characteristics or in cases where you appreciate someone's efforts or achievements. After recognizing the importance of teamwork, the manager organized team-building activities. She had trouble recognizing her old friend after so many years.
acknowledge	Used to show that you admit the existence or truth of something, or to appreciate someone's presence, contribution, or effort. She acknowledged his contribution to the project during her speech. He didn't acknowledge her wave as he walked by.
admit	Often used when confessing to something, especially something that may be embarrassing or troublesome. He had to admit that he was wrong about the budget. She finally admitted her mistake.
accept	Best used when you agree to take something offered or when you agree to a situation without attempting to change it. He decided to accept the new job offer. You need to accept that things will not always go as planned.
validate	Used when you confirm or prove that something is correct or worthwhile, often used in official or formal contexts. The experiments were conducted to validate the theory. He needed someone to validate his parking ticket.

Examples of usage

The government finally recognized the independence of the new state.
She was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the field.
The company recognized the need for change.
He was officially recognized as a hero for his brave actions.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'recognize' comes from the Latin 'recognoscere,' meaning 'to know again.'
In its earliest forms, it was spelled as 'recognoz' in Middle English around the 14th century.

Psychology

Recognition is a key part of memory retrieval, differing from recall, which is when you retrieve information without cues.
The ability to recognize faces, known as prosopagnosia, can be impaired in some individuals, showing how complex memory processes are.

Cognitive Science

Studies indicate that visual recognition relies heavily on familiarity, often occurring quicker than recall tasks.
Recognition tasks are commonly used in psychological testing to gauge memory and learning ability.

Pop Culture

In movies, a classic plot device is when a character suddenly recognizes someone from their past, leading to emotional reunions.
Reality TV often emphasizes recognizing people's emotions or actions, making it popular for social connections.

Technology

Facial recognition technology uses algorithms to match faces in real-time, revolutionizing security and personal devices.
Voice recognition software has become popular for smart assistants, allowing users to interact with technology through speech.

Translations

Translations of the word "recognizing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reconhecer

🇮🇳 पहचानना

🇩🇪 erkennen

🇮🇩 mengenali

🇺🇦 визнавати

🇵🇱 rozpoznawać

🇯🇵 認識する (にんしきする)

🇫🇷 reconnaître

🇪🇸 reconocer

🇹🇷 tanımak

🇰🇷 인식하다

🇸🇦 التعرف على

🇨🇿 rozpoznávat

🇸🇰 rozpoznávať

🇨🇳 识别 (shíbié)

🇸🇮 prepoznati

🇮🇸 þekkja

🇰🇿 тану

🇬🇪 ცნობიერება

🇦🇿 tanımaq

🇲🇽 reconocer

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,593 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
6590 hunt
6591 lacked
6592 ores
6593 recognizing
6594 reprinted
6595 ammunition
6596 preached
...