distinguish

4 definitions • 12 examples

to notice or understand the difference between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another:

distinguish between He's colour-blind and can't distinguish (the difference) between red and green easily.

distinguish someone/something from someone/something I sometimes have difficulty distinguishing Spanish from Portuguese.

It's important to distinguish between business and pleasure.

It's not the beauty so much as the range of his voice that distinguishes him from other tenors.

to do something so well that you are admired and praised for it:

He distinguished himself as a writer at a very early age.

At school, she distinguished herself as an outstanding debater.

He quickly distinguished himself in his chosen career.

He didn't especially distinguish himself in any particular field, as far as I recall.

Richardson rapidly distinguished himself with his diligence and industry.

to recognize or understand the difference between two things, or to provide a quality that makes someone or something different or special:

[ I always + adv/prep ] It’s important to distinguish between scientific fact and fiction.

[ T ] Samuel F. B. Morse distinguished himself both as an inventor and as a painter.

to see, hear, or experience something, esp. with difficulty:

In the dark, I could barely distinguish the shape of a person.