identify
Frequently Asked Questions
- 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.
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.
JWST's observations were about ten times more precise, allowing scientists to identify localized patterns of heating and cooling for the first time.
From Science Daily • May 29, 2026
The European Commission said the company had "failed to diligently identify, analyse and assess the systemic risks" of the products and the harm they could cause to consumers.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
"The company failed to diligently identify, analyse, and assess the systemic risks of illegal products being offered on its platform and the resulting harm to consumers in the European Union," the EU said.
From Barron's • May 28, 2026
The financial-stability report is intended to offer a broad view of financial-system stability, and identify risks that could morph into bigger stresses and trigger volatility.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
I was sent home with a referral to see a therapist so I could learn how to manage my anxiety and identify my triggers or whatever.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Vocabulary lists containing identify
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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