recognize
She recognized her old friend across the crowded room.
She identified and acknowledged her old friend in a busy setting.
to identify or acknowledge something or someone as familiar or known
He recognized the song as soon as it started playing.
He identified the song immediately upon hearing it.
The system can recognize faces in real-time.
The system can identify faces as they appear in real-time.
Often used for identifying people, objects, or patterns.
to acknowledge the existence, validity, or importance of something
The government recognized the new political party.
The government officially acknowledged the new political party.
She recognized his efforts in the project.
She acknowledged his contributions to the project.
Used in formal or official contexts to denote acknowledgment.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Recognize' is often used for identifying people, objects, or patterns, as well as acknowledging achievements or importance.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'recognize' in formal contexts to acknowledge something's validity or importance.
Word Origin
From Middle French 'recognosce,' from Latin 'recognoscere,' meaning 'to know again' or 'to examine.'
Usage Notes
Can be used both literally (identifying something) and figuratively (acknowledging something's value).