Englisch

distinguish

gb/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/ us/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
B1 Englisch
~ 2300
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Verb B1 action
1

Recognize differences between things

To see or show how things or people are different.

Verwendungsmuster: to distinguish between [A] and [B]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes omit 'between' when comparing two things, saying 'distinguish A and B' instead of 'distinguish between A and B'.
Synonyme
differentiate (More formal; often used in academic or technical contexts.) | tell apart (More informal; commonly used in everyday speech.)
Antonyme
confuse (Means to mistake one thing for another instead of recognizing differences.)
Wortverbindungen
distinguish clearly |distinguish easily |distinguish between |hard to distinguish |distinguish features
Themen
thinking |communication |daily life |core_vocabulary
Beispiele
  • It's sometimes hard to distinguish between real and fake news.
  • Can you distinguish the twins from each other?
  • The teacher could easily distinguish the students who had studied from those who hadn't.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • I can distinguish my bag from yours.
  • She can distinguish the two colors.
  • It is hard to distinguish the twins.
Verb B2 action
2

Make something seem special or different

To make someone or something special or different from others.

Verwendungsmuster: to distinguish [someone/something] from [others]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'recognize differences', but here the subject causes the difference, not observes it.
Synonyme
set apart (Informal; emphasizes the difference as unique or notable.) | differentiate (Formal; can imply a deliberate act of making something different.)
Antonyme
blend in (Means to appear similar to others so as not to be noticed.)
Wortverbindungen
distinguish oneself |distinguish by |distinguish feature |distinguish mark
Themen
personal qualities |business |arts |communication |core_vocabulary
Beispiele
  • Her creative writing distinguishes her from other students.
  • The company distinguishes itself by offering excellent customer service.
  • A strong sense of ethics distinguishes great leaders.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • Good service can distinguish a shop from others.
  • Her voice distinguishes her from other singers.
  • He distinguished himself in the race.
Verb formal B2 action
3

Perceive something clearly

To see, hear, or know something clearly, even if it is not easy.

Verwendungsmuster: to distinguish [something] in/from [background/context]
Synonyme
discern (Formal; often used for careful observation or judgment.)
Antonyme
overlook (Means to fail to notice something that is there.)
Wortverbindungen
distinguish details |distinguish shapes |distinguish sounds
Themen
perception |nature |body |core_vocabulary
Beispiele
  • In the fog, we could barely distinguish the outline of the mountain.
  • She could distinguish his voice from across the noisy room.
  • From this distance, it's hard to distinguish any details.
Beispiele für Lernende
  • I can distinguish his voice in the crowd.
  • She can distinguish the shape of the boat in the fog.
  • It is hard to distinguish the road in the dark.
Grammatik
Grundform
distinguish
IPA
GB/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
US/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
Silben & Betonung
dis - tin - guish (3 Silben)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tin)
Wortformen
Verb
  • Base: distinguish
  • 3rd Person Singular: distinguishes
  • Present Participle: distinguishing
  • Past: distinguished
Wortfamilie
Forms
distinguishes verb distinguishing verb distinguished verb
Core family
distinction noun B2 distinct adjective B2 distinctive adjective B2 distinctly adverb B1
Related words
distinguishable adjective distinctively adverb distinctiveness noun
Negative and opposite forms
indistinct adjective C1 indistinguishable adjective undistinguished adjective
Ausdrücke

distinguish between A and B

1
/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ bɪtwˈin ə ˈænd bˈi/
fixed phrase

Recognize differences between two things

To see how two things are not the same.

Beispiele
  • It's important to distinguish between facts and opinions.
  • Can you distinguish between these two types of fabric?

distinguish oneself

1
/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ wˌʌnsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase

Do something that makes you stand out positively

To do something very well so that people notice you.

Beispiele
  • She distinguished herself during the competition by her skill and determination.
  • He distinguished himself as a leader during the crisis.

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