What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recognize
Example
I recognize her from the party last week. [recognize: verb]
Example
We recognize the importance of this issue. [recognize: verb]
Example
He recognized his mistake and apologized. [recognized: past tense]
distinguish
Example
It's hard to distinguish between the twins. [distinguish: verb]
Example
Her voice is easily distinguishable from others. [distinguishable: adjective]
Example
He was able to distinguish the subtle differences in the paintings. [distinguished: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recognize is more commonly used in everyday language than distinguish. Recognize is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while distinguish is more formal and less common.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recognize and distinguish?
Distinguish is more formal than recognize and is typically used in academic or professional contexts. Recognize, on the other hand, is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
