B2verb 2K

Distinguish

UK /["/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/","/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪz/","/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/","/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ/"]/ US /["/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/","/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪz/","/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/","/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

to recognize the difference between two people or things

Listen to definition

In simple words: to tell the difference between things

Examples

• It can be difficult to distinguish between fact and opinion in a debate.
• She was able to distinguish her own voice among the many others in the crowd.
• The artist's unique style helps to distinguish his work from that of his contemporaries.
• In order to succeed, you need to distinguish yourself from the competition.
• It's important to distinguish the different types of evidence presented in the report.
• The ability to distinguish colors is crucial for certain professions, like art and design.

Usage notes

Use 'distinguish' in contexts where you are comparing two or more things that have different characteristics. It's more formal than 'tell apart'. Avoid in casual conversations unless necessary.

Grammar pattern

distinguish + object + from + object

Memory hint

Think of 'distinguish' as 'dis' and 'tinguish', like two different people waving distinct flags.

Collocations

• clearly
• sharply
• carefully
• be able to
• can
• could
• between
• from
• have difficulty distinguishing
• have difficulty in distinguishing
• have trouble distinguishing
• clearly
• sharply
• carefully
• be able to
• can
• could
• between
• from
• have difficulty distinguishing
• have difficulty in distinguishing
• have trouble distinguishing

Synonyms

• differentiate
• make out

Antonyms

• confuse
• mistake
• blurr

Common mistakes

• Using 'distinguish' without an object, e.g., saying 'I can distinguish.' instead of 'I can distinguish blue from green.'
• Confusing 'distinguish' with 'differentiate'; they are similar but have specific usages.
• Incorrectly using 'distinguish' with only one item, e.g., saying 'I can distinguish this.' without a reference point.