recognize
gb/ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz/ us/ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz/
A2
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Identify from past knowledge
To know a person or thing because you saw or learned about them before.
Usage pattern:
to recognize [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'recognize' with 'realize'. 'Recognize' is about identifying something known before, while 'realize' is about becoming aware of something new.
Synonyms
identify (More formal; often used in official or technical contexts.)
Antonyms
misidentify (Means to identify incorrectly; the opposite of correctly recognizing.)
Collocations
recognize a face
|recognize someone instantly
|recognize a voice
|hard to recognize
|easily recognize
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I recognized her from our school days.
- He was so disguised that I almost didn't recognize him.
- Do you recognize this song?
- She recognized the handwriting on the envelope.
- I instantly recognized the smell of fresh bread.
Learner examples
- I recognize my teacher in the photo.
- Do you recognize this man?
- She recognizes the song on the radio.
- I can recognize his voice.
- He recognizes the place from a movie.
Verb
B1
action
2
Accept as valid or true
To say or show that something is true or official.
Usage pattern:
to recognize [something] as [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'admit', but 'recognize' in this sense involves formal acceptance, not personal confession.
Synonyms
acknowledge (Often interchangeable, but 'acknowledge' can be less formal in some contexts.)
Antonyms
reject (Means to refuse to accept or approve something.)
Collocations
recognize a government
|recognize an achievement
|recognize as legitimate
|recognize independence
Themes
politics
|law
|communication
Examples
- Most countries recognize the new government.
- The award recognizes her contribution to science.
- The treaty was recognized by both parties.
- They refused to recognize his authority.
Learner examples
- The country recognizes the new leader.
- My boss recognizes my hard work.
- The law recognizes this right.
- We recognize his claim.
Verb
B1
action
3
Show appreciation or praise
To say thank you or give credit for someone's work or good qualities.
Usage pattern:
to recognize [someone's] [effort/achievement]
Synonyms
commend (More formal and strongly positive praise.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not notice or acknowledge someone's effort or qualities.)
Collocations
recognize talent
|recognize achievement
|recognize contribution
Themes
emotions
|work
|communication
Examples
- The manager recognized her team's hard work.
- We should recognize his dedication to the project.
- She was recognized for her volunteer service.
Learner examples
- My teacher recognizes my effort.
- We recognize her good work.
- The company recognizes his skill.
Grammar
Dictionary form
recognize
IPA
GB/ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz/
US/ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
re - cog - nize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (re)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: recognize
- 3rd Person Singular: recognizes
- Present Participle: recognizing
- Past: recognized
Word family
Forms
recognizes
verb
recognizing
verb
recognized
verb
Core family
recognition
noun B1
recognizable
adjective B2
Related words
recognizably
adverb B2
recognise
verb A2
Negative and opposite forms
unrecognizable
adjective
unrecognized
adjective
Expressions
make someone recognize
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz/
fixed phrase
Cause acceptance of truth/validity
To help someone see that something is true or real.
Examples
- We need to make people recognize the danger of climate change.
- The teacher made the students recognize their own abilities.
recognize as
1/ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪz ˈæz/
fixed phrase
Identify with a certain status
To say that someone or something is a particular type or has a certain quality.
Examples
- She is recognized as one of the best doctors in the city.
- This area is recognized as a national park.