recognizing

4 definitions • 7 examples

present participle of

to know someone or something because you have seen or heard him or her or experienced it before:

I hadn't seen her for 20 years, but I recognized her immediately.

Do you recognize this song?

Doctors are trained to recognize the symptoms of different diseases.

to accept that something is legal, true, or important:

The international community has refused to recognize (= officially accept the existence of) the newly independent nation state.

[ + (that) ] He sadly recognized (that) he would die childless.

You must recognize the seriousness of the problems we are facing.

If a person's achievements are recognized, official approval is shown for them:

The Queen recognized his services to his country by awarding him an MBE.