Determine vs Identify

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Determine

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

Identify

Top 2,000 (common) A2 verb

Most common: Determine

	Determine	Identify
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈtɜːmɪn/","/dɪˈtɜːmɪnz/","/dɪˈtɜːmɪnd/","/dɪˈtɜːmɪnɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/","/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnz/","/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd/","/dɪˈtɜːrmɪnɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ// 🇺🇸 //aɪˈdɛn tə faɪ//
Meaning	To find out or decide something.	To say who or what someone or something is.
Example	It is essential to determine the main cause of the problem.	The teacher asked us to identify the different species of plants.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	A2
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	exactly, precisely, reliably, try to, be used to, help to, biologically, culturally, genetically	identify an object, identify a problem, identify a mistake, identify the source, identify risks
Antonyms	confuse, neglect, ignore	ignore, overlook, confuse
Common mistakes	Using 'determine' in the wrong tense., Confused with 'decide' or 'discover'., Incorrectly using as a standalone without an object.	Confused with 'identify with', which means to relate to someone., Using 'identifying' incorrectly as a noun., Forgetting to use an object after 'identify'.
Usage notes	Use 'determine' when making a decision based on information or evidence. It's appropriate in both written and spoken context but can sound formal in casual conversation.	Used when recognizing or naming something. Common in everyday situations and formal contexts, but avoid in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

I don't think you can determine what type of

Determine

She had to be able to identify a person 60 feet away, at night, without glasses.

Identify

Frequently asked questions: Determine vs Identify

What's the difference between Determine and Identify?

Determine: To find out or decide something. Identify: To say who or what someone or something is.

Which is more common: Determine and Identify?

Determine is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Determine and Identify?

Determine is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Determine and Identify the same CEFR level?

Determine: B1, Identify: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Determine and Identify?

Determine: verb, Identify: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Determine: It is essential to determine the main cause of the problem. Identify: The teacher asked us to identify the different species of plants.

Can I use Determine and Identify interchangeably?

Not always. Determine and Identify are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.