Meaning

5 senses

  1. To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.

    unterscheiden

    различа́тьrazličátʹ, различи́тьrazličítʹ

    розрізня́тиrozriznjáty, розрізни́тиrozriznýty, відрізня́тиvidriznjáty

    mark as different

  2. To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.

    erkennen

    отлича́тьotličátʹ, отличи́тьotličítʹ, распознава́тьraspoznavátʹ

    відрізня́тиvidriznjáty, відрізни́тиvidriznýty, розпізнава́тиrozpiznaváty

  3. (reflexive, transitive)To make noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.

    The soldier distinguished himself in combat and received a medal.

    sich auszeichnen

    отлича́тьсяotličátʹsja, отличи́тьсяotličítʹsja

    відзнача́тисяvidznačátysja, відзна́чи́тисяvidznáčýtysja

  4. To confer an honor upon.

    The soldier was distinguished with a medal for his bravery.

    відзнача́тиvidznačáty, відзна́чи́тиvidznáčýty

  5. (obsolete, transitive)To make to differ.

    make conspicuous or noteworthy

Examples

190 sentences

  1. You should distinguish between right and wrong.

    Ти повинен розрізняти правильне від хибного.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  2. To distinguish right from wrong is difficult.

    Відрізняти правду від кривди складно.

    ruОтличить правильное от неправильного нелегко.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  3. I can't distinguish a frog from a toad.

    Я не можу відрізнити жабу від ропухи.

    ruЯ не могу отличить лягушку от жабы.

    deIch kann einen Frosch nicht von einer Kröte unterscheiden.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · C1Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  4. You look very distinguished.

    Ти вигладаєш дуже вишукано.

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  5. Dogs can't distinguish between colors.

    Собаки не можуть розрізняти кольори.

    ruСобаки не умеют различать цвета.

    deHunde können keine Farben unterscheiden.

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Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 4
to see someone or something as different from others:
to see someone or something clearly or distinctly — see also discern, make out:
to make oneself noticeably different:
to give an honor:
Русский
By meaning 3
to see someone or something as different from others:
to see someone or something clearly or distinctly — see also discern, make out:
to make oneself noticeably different:
Deutsch
By meaning 3
to see someone or something as different from others:
to see someone or something clearly or distinctly — see also discern, make out:
to make oneself noticeably different:

Origin

From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to se

From Middle English distingwen, from Old French distinguer, from Latin distinguere (“to separate, divide, distinguish, set off, adorn, literally mark off”), from di-, dis- (“apart”) + stinguere, related to English stink. Compare extinguish.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

distinguishes, distinguishing, distinguished, distinguished
Base formdistinguish · to distinguish
3rd person singulardistinguishes
Present participledistinguishing
Past simpledistinguished
Past participledistinguished

regular · Lesson

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theydistinguish
he, she, itdistinguishes

Past simpleLesson

all personsdistinguished

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave distinguished
he, she, ithas distinguished

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill distinguish

Synonyms

28 synonyms
discriminateB2tellA1differentiatedecerndiscerndifferentializeset aparttell apartmake out
Close in meaning

Antonyms

1 antonyms
confuseA2

Word family

19 related words
RelateddistinctionB1contradistinguishdistinctdistinctiveextinguish
DeriveddistinguishedB2counterdistinguishdistinguishabilitydistinguishabledistinguisherdistinguishingdistinguishmentdistinguishnessinterdistinguishmisdistinguishredistinguishsubdistinguishundistinguishabilityundistinguishing

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

Collocations

3 patterns
  • distinguish good from
  • can't distinguish
  • distinguish good

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
distinctionB1distinctivedistinctlyB1distinguishabledistortdistortionB2
distinguish — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto