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identify

[ahy-den-tuh-fahy, ih-den-] / aɪˈdɛn təˌfaɪ, ɪˈdɛn- /


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.

See Examples For:

In this environment, strong foundational knowledge of a topic or domain becomes even more important, as it helps students identify the right questions to ask and explain why those questions matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

"The University Management Board has agreed to identify approximately £10m of savings this year and, depending on the final position with public funding, further difficult choices may have to follow this academic year," Greer said.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

No suspects "have been arrested at this stage in connection with the incident", the prosecutor's office said, adding that investigators were working to identify those responsible.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Researchers often need years of additional work to identify a suitable compound and determine whether it can be used safely in people.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026

“You’re also going to need an expert entomologist. Someone who can identify all the insects.”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

To search for jet quenching, the researchers developed an analysis that identifies concentrated streams of high-energy particles and measures how many emerge above a selected energy threshold.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Established in 2012, the scheme runs workshops in Welsh schools, where the company identifies children it believes have natural ability in dance but are not in any formal training.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

“What identifies an individual as a king is how other people behave towards him,” says a quote attributed to the actor.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026

Davidson, said Nvidia identifies parts of the AI ecosystem that are not investing enough and puts money into them to fill the gaps.

From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026

In a far-sighted section of the book he correctly identifies fossils as the remains of once-living creatures and plants.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

I recall as a teenager being puzzled to learn that my grandfather identified as an American first and Chinese second.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

It told AFP that as more information became available, "Copilot reflected the updated context and identified the claim as fabricated."

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Eleanor had a cardiac arrest before the collapsed lung was identified and treated, causing an unsurvivable brain injury.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Researchers with UCLA’s Voting Rights Project examined a list of 20,930 people identified by federal officials as potentially ineligible voters.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

Phillip seemed to have identified the problem exactly.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the state’s system for identifying and responding to potential misconduct functioned as intended.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

The process requires sworn statements and identifying information from prospective voters.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

By identifying high-risk hotspots, governments and global health partners can strategically stockpile antivenom where it is needed most, train primary healthcare workers in high-burden rural zones and improve rapid transport infrastructure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

That can include voter registration forms, sign-in sheets, poll books, copies of identifying documents that are submitted and ballots themselves, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Sasha had been identifying as agender for almost a year by now, but they still dressed the same as they always had—like a boy.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater


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