recognize

[rek-uh g-nahyz] /ˈrɛk əgˌnaɪz/
verb (used with object), recognized, recognizing.
1.
to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.:
He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.
2.
to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics:
I recognized him from the description. They recognized him as a fraud.
3.
to perceive as existing or true; realize:
to be the first to recognize a fact.
4.
to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time:
The Speaker recognized the congressman from Maine.
5.
to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit:
The United States promptly recognized Israel.
6.
to acknowledge or accept formally a specified factual or legal situation:
to recognize a successful revolutionary regime as the de facto government of the country.
7.
to acknowledge or treat as valid:
to recognize a claim.
8.
to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.
9.
to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.
10.
Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.
11.
Biochemistry, Immunology. to bind with, cleave, or otherwise react to (another substance) as a result of fitting its molecular shape or a portion of its shape.
Also, especially British, recognise.
Origin
1425-75; recogn(ition) + -ize; replacing late Middle English racunnysen, recognisen < Old French reconuiss-, stem of reconuistre < Latin recognōscere, equivalent to re- re- + cognōscere to know1; see cognition
Related forms
recognizable
[rek-uh g-nahy-zuh-buh l, rek-uh g-nahy-] /ˈrɛk əgˌnaɪ zə bəl, ˌrɛk əgˈnaɪ-/ (Show IPA), adjective
recognizability, noun
recognizably, adverb
recognizer, noun
nonrecognized, adjective
prerecognize, verb (used with object), prerecognized, prerecognizing.
quasi-recognized, adjective
unrecognizable, adjective
unrecognizably, adverb
unrecognized, adjective
unrecognizing, adjective
well-recognized, adjective
Synonyms
3. acknowledge, appreciate, understand, grant, concede.
Examples from the web for recognize
  • Our brains are exquisitely tuned to perceive, recognize and remember faces.
  • It's easy to recognize larger pests, such as deer and rabbits--but it's not so simple with the smaller ones.
  • We have now lost too many acres not to recognize an exponential explosion of plants.
  • The whales' distinctive markings allow scientists to recognize individuals and track their movements.
  • Humans can recognize their own reflection before the age of two.
  • The patients can now avoid obstacles even in dim light, read large print and recognize people's faces.
  • We are exquisitely able to recognize other individuals and to read their emotions from mere glimpses of their faces.
  • Lose that neuron, and you no longer recognize grandma.
  • In fact, it turns out that an owner may recognize his ride the same way he identifies people.
  • Computers, for instance, cannot match our ability to recognize a friend from a distance merely by the way he walks.
British Dictionary definitions for recognize

recognize

/ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz/
verb (transitive)
1.
to perceive (a person, creature, or thing) to be the same as or belong to the same class as something previously seen or known; know again
2.
to accept or be aware of (a fact, duty, problem, etc): to recognize necessity
3.
to give formal acknowledgment of the status or legality of (a government, an accredited representative, etc)
4.
(mainly US & Canadian) to grant (a person) the right to speak in a deliberative body, debate, etc
5.
to give a token of thanks for (a service rendered, etc)
6.
to make formal acknowledgment of (a claim, etc)
7.
to show approval or appreciation of (something good or pleasing)
8.
to acknowledge or greet (a person), as when meeting by chance
9.
(intransitive) (mainly US) to enter into a recognizance
Derived Forms
recognizable, recognisable, adjective
recognizability, recognisability, noun
recognizably, recognisably, adverb
recognizer, recogniser, noun
Word Origin
C15: from Latin recognoscere to know again, from re- + cognoscere to know, ascertain
Word Origin and History for recognize
v.

early 15c., "resume possession of land," back-formation from recognizance, or else from Old French reconoiss-, stem of reconoistre "to know again, identify, recognize," from Latin recognoscere "acknowledge, recall to mind, know again; examine; certify," from re- "again" (see re-) + cognoscere "know" (see cognizance). Meaning "know again, recall or recover the knowledge of, perceive an identity with something formerly known or felt" first recorded 1530s. Related: Recognized; recognizing.