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Definitions

identify

[ahy-den-tuh-fahy, ih-den-] / aɪˈdɛn təˌfaɪ, ɪˈdɛn- /
VERB
recognize; label
Synonyms
STRONGEST
analyze classify describe determine diagnose establish find name pinpoint select single out spot
STRONG
card catalog distinguish peg place separate tag
WEAK
button down determinate diagnosticate make out pick out put one's finger on tab
Antonyms
STRONGEST
confuse lose miss overlook
WEAK
mistake

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for identify?
There are a lot of good synonyms for identify—which one to use depends on what exactly you want to mean. Here are some of the main ones:
  • recognize—to be able to tell what something is (and often to know its name), as in He immediately identified/recognized it as a monarch butterfly. 
  • diagnose or pinpoint, as in My mechanic was finally able to identify/diagnose/pinpoint the problem. 
  • associate, such as with a certain group or belief, as in She’s known for identifying/associating with the party’s reform wing. 
  • distinguish, as in Her height identified/distinguished her as the volleyball player. 
  • establish (who someone is), as in He has been identified/established as the main suspect. Relatedly, to identify someone is to figure out who they are—to establish their identity.
Sometimes, to identify in some way means to consider some characteristic as an inherent part of your identity (and perhaps to make this publicly known), as in I identify as nonbinary or She proudly identifies as Mexican American. Another way to express this is simply by using forms of the verb be, as in I am nonbinary.
Are identify and determine synonyms?
Yes, identify and determine can be synonyms when they mean the same thing as diagnose and pinpoint, among other things.
Does identify mean the same thing as list?
Let’s say you’re taking a test that asks you to identify the world’s oceans. In this case, yes, you’re required to list them. Of course, if you’re asked to come to the front of the classroom and identify them on a map, you’re really being asked to demonstrate that you can recognize them by pointing them out (as opposed to listing them out loud or on paper).
What is an antonym (opposite) of identify?
There are a few different words that you can use as the opposite of identify. The most direct opposite of identify is misidentify, which means to identify something incorrectly. For example, a newspaper story might misidentify someone by providing the wrong name. The police might misidentify a suspect—meaning they got the wrong person. A birder might misidentify a bird due to thinking it’s a different one that’s similar. When identify means to determine, diagnose, or pinpoint something, the opposite of doing this is to overlook or miss something entirely. To misdiagnose a problem is to incorrectly identify something as the problem (when it’s really not).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Between 2026 and 2036, the U.S. will identify future landing sites for astronauts on the moon.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

"This will in turn make it easier to identify the underlying causes that make the information disappear," he said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

The model managed to identify thousands of vulnerabilities, including some in pieces of software that have survived decades of both human review and automated security testing, and developed increasingly sophisticated exploits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Bonta said “the affidavits did not identify any specific felony offense the sheriff had probable cause to believe had been committed or that a particular person had committed a felony.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Maggie can only identify half of their meals—tamales and burgers are easy, but there are also bowls filled with rice and what might be stew with cornbread.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith