- (v.i.) To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible.
- (v.t.) To recognize or discern by marks, signs or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum.
- (v.t.) To constitute a difference; to make to differ.
- (v.i.) To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.
- (v.t.) To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low.
- (v.t.) To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for.
- (v.t.) Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). distinguish. Retrieved September 25, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/distinguish/definitions/1999382 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "distinguish" http://smartdefine.org/distinguish/definitions/1999382 (accessed September 25, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, distinguish, Smart Define, viewed 25 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/distinguish/definitions/1999382>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "distinguish" 27 May 2011. Web. 25 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/distinguish/definitions/1999382> |