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Verb: recognize  're-kug,nIz
  1. Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
    "We do not recognize your gods";
    - acknowledge, recognise [Brit], know
     
  2. Be fully aware or cognizant of
    - recognise [Brit], realize, realise [Brit], agnize [archaic], agnise [Brit, archaic]
     
  3. See or hear differences; identify a particular part or parts of a whole; detect with difficulty
    - spot, recognise [Brit], distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart
     
  4. Perceive to be the same
    - recognise [Brit]
     
  5. Grant credentials to
    "The Regents officially recognized the new educational institution"; "recognize an academic degree";
    - accredit, recognise [Brit]
     
  6. Express greetings upon meeting someone
    - greet, recognise [Brit]
     
  7. Express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for
    "We must recognize the kindness she showed towards us";
    - acknowledge, recognise [Brit]
     
  8. Exhibit recognition for (an antigen or a substrate)
    - recognise [Brit]
     
  9. Show approval or appreciation of
    "My work is not recognized by anybody!"; "The best student was recognized by the Dean";
    - recognise [Brit]

Derived forms: recognized, recognizes, recognizing

Type of: accept, accost, appreciate, be, buttonhole [informal], call back, call up, certify, cognise [Brit], cognize, give thanks, know, licence [Brit, Cdn], license, nobble [Brit, informal], prize, recall, recollect, remember, retrieve, thank, think, treasure, value

Encyclopedia: Recognize