Home / Words / distinguishNo. 0116

distinguish

/dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ//dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/·verb
to recognize or mark the difference between things
Fig. 1 — A single beam of pure white light crosses an optical bench and passes through a glass prism.
01Definition

To distinguish is to tell things apart — to perceive or mark the line that separates one from another. You distinguish a wolf from a dog, fact from opinion, the real from the forged. It overlaps with differentiate and discern, but distinguish leans on noticing the difference, where differentiate often means actively creating one. A second sense turns the word on its subject: to distinguish yourself is to stand out by merit and earn distinction. The Latin distinguere meant to separate by marking points between things.

02In use
  • iEven experts struggle to distinguish the forgery from the original.
  • iiA strong essay must distinguish between correlation and causation.
  • iiiShe distinguished herself as one of the most diligent students of her year.
03Collocations
  • distinguish between
  • distinguish from
  • hard to distinguish
  • distinguish oneself
  • clearly distinguish

Family distinction (noun) · distinct (adjective) · distinctive (adjective) · distinguished (adjective)

04Relations

=differentiate, discern, tell apart, discriminate, separate

≠confuse, conflate

05Compared
PairThe difference
distinguish vs differentiatedistinguish = notice a difference already there; differentiate = make or develop one ('differentiate between' also means tell apart).
distinguish vs discernmake out something faint, with effort → discern; tell two things apart → distinguish.
06TOEFL & IELTS

One of the most useful academic verbs, and a frequent essay prompt itself ('distinguish between X and Y'). Drill 'distinguish between' and 'distinguish from'. Keep the near-neighbours apart: distinguish is to notice a difference, differentiate is to make or specify one, and discern is to perceive something faint. The 'distinguish oneself' sense and the adjective distinguished are worth showing off in formal writing.

07Asked
What does 'distinguished' mean?
Eminent, respected, marked out by achievement — a distinguished professor, a distinguished career. It grew from the verb's 'stand out' sense: to distinguish yourself is to earn distinction, and someone who has done so is distinguished. It can also describe a dignified appearance ('distinguished grey hair'). One word, from telling apart to being set above.
What is a 'distinguishing feature'?
A trait that sets one thing apart from others and lets you identify it — a bird's distinguishing feature might be a red crest, a suspect's a scar. The phrase names exactly what the verb does: the one mark that draws the line between this and everything it resembles. It is a precise, exam-ready alternative to 'special characteristic'.
Is it 'distinguish between' or 'distinguish from'?
Both, with different shapes. Distinguish BETWEEN two things treats them as a pair ('distinguish between cause and effect'). Distinguish one thing FROM another singles it out against the rest ('distinguish the original from the copy'). Between pairs them up; from sets one apart. A single thing can also be distinguished BY its feature.
What is the difference between distinguish and discern?
Distinguish is to tell two or more things apart. Discern is to perceive something faint or hidden at all — to make it out. You distinguish a wolf from a dog once you can see both clearly; you discern a shape in fog before you can name it. Discern is about detection; distinguish is about separation.
What does it mean to 'distinguish yourself'?
To stand out from everyone around you by merit — 'she distinguished herself in the final exams'. The verb turns reflexive: instead of separating two outside things, you mark yourself off from the pack by excelling. Do it well enough and the adjective follows: you become distinguished.
How do you pronounce distinguish?
Dih-STING-gwish — stress on the second syllable, and the -ngu- is said 'ng-gw', the same cluster as in 'language' and 'anguish'. Learners often drop the w-glide ('dis-TIN-ish'); keep it. The related noun keeps the pattern: distinction, dih-STINK-shun.
What is the difference between distinguish and differentiate?
The compressed tell: you can distinguish things simply by perceiving the difference, whereas differentiate leans toward actively making or marking one. The full contrast, with both animated scenes, is on the differentiate vs distinguish page in the 'Compared' list above.