distinguish
gb/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/ us/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
B1
English
~ 2300
megkülönböztet, különbséget tesz, kiemel, kitűnik, kivesz, felismer, észlel
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to distinguish between [A] and [B]
It's sometimes hard to distinguish between real and fake news.
Néha nehéz különbséget tenni a valódi hírek és az álhírek között.
Can you distinguish the twins from each other?
Meg tudod különböztetni az ikreket egymástól?
The teacher could easily distinguish the students who had studied from those who hadn't.
Learner examples
I can distinguish my bag from yours.
Meg tudom különböztetni a táskámat a tiédtől.
She can distinguish the two colors.
Meg tudja különböztetni a két színt.
It is hard to distinguish the twins.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'between' when comparing two things, saying 'distinguish A and B' instead of 'distinguish between A and B'.
Meaning
Recognize differences between things
Collocations
distinguish clearly
|distinguish easily
|distinguish between
|hard to distinguish
|distinguish features
Synonyms
differentiate (More formal; often used in academic or technical contexts.)
|
tell apart (More informal; commonly used in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
confuse (Means to mistake one thing for another instead of recognizing differences.)
Themes
thinking
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To see or show how things or people are different.
To recognize or point out the differences between two or more things or people.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to distinguish [someone/something] from [others]
Her creative writing distinguishes her from other students.
Kreatív írásai kiemelik őt a többi diák közül.
The company distinguishes itself by offering excellent customer service.
A vállalat azzal tűnik ki, hogy kiváló ügyfélszolgálatot nyújt.
A strong sense of ethics distinguishes great leaders.
Learner examples
Good service can distinguish a shop from others.
A jó kiszolgálás kiemelhet egy üzletet a többi közül.
Her voice distinguishes her from other singers.
A hangja kiemeli őt a többi énekes közül.
He distinguished himself in the race.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'recognize differences', but here the subject causes the difference, not observes it.
Meaning
Make something seem special or different
Collocations
distinguish oneself
|distinguish by
|distinguish feature
|distinguish mark
Synonyms
set apart (Informal; emphasizes the difference as unique or notable.)
|
differentiate (Formal; can imply a deliberate act of making something different.)
Antonyms
blend in (Means to appear similar to others so as not to be noticed.)
Themes
personal qualities
|business
|arts
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone or something special or different from others.
To cause something or someone to be different from others in a way that is special or notable.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to distinguish [something] in/from [background/context]
In the fog, we could barely distinguish the outline of the mountain.
A ködben alig tudtuk kivenni a hegy körvonalát.
She could distinguish his voice from across the noisy room.
A zajos terem másik végéből is felismerte a hangját.
From this distance, it's hard to distinguish any details.
Learner examples
I can distinguish his voice in the crowd.
Fel tudom ismerni a hangját a tömegben.
She can distinguish the shape of the boat in the fog.
Ki tudja venni a csónak alakját a ködben.
It is hard to distinguish the road in the dark.
Meaning
Perceive something clearly
Collocations
distinguish details
|distinguish shapes
|distinguish sounds
Synonyms
discern (Formal; often used for careful observation or judgment.)
Antonyms
overlook (Means to fail to notice something that is there.)
Themes
perception
|nature
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To see, hear, or know something clearly, even if it is not easy.
To recognize something clearly, especially by sight, sound, or other senses, often despite difficulty.
Grammar
Dictionary form
distinguish
IPA
GB/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
US/dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
dis - tin - guish (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tin)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: distinguish
- 3rd Person Singular: distinguishes
- Present Participle: distinguishing
- Past: distinguished
Word family
Forms
distinguishes
verb
distinguishing
verb
distinguished
verb
Core family
Related words
distinguishable
adjective
distinctively
adverb
distinctiveness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Expressions
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.
Examples
- 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.
Examples
- She distinguished herself during the competition by her skill and determination.
- He distinguished himself as a leader during the crisis.