recognize
To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
Verb 4 meanings
To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
“I recognized his face immediately, although his voice was different.”
To acknowledge the existence or legality of; to treat as valid or worthy of consideration.
“The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognize Kosovo on Monday.”
To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).
“Slavery is widely recognized as immoral.”
To realize or discover the nature of something; apprehend quality in.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin had rare recognizare (“to try by jury”).
Similar and opposite words
RECOGNIZE at a glance
RECOGNIZE has 9 letters and scores 21 points in Scrabble (R 1 + E 1 + C 3 + O 1 + G 2 + N 1 + I 1 + Z 10 + E 1) and 24 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #2,845 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with recognize
All rhymes- SIZE13
- REALIZE16
- PRIZE16
- APOLOGIZE21
- ORGANIZE18
- MINIMIZE21
- SEIZE14
- UTILIZE16
- EMPHASIZE25
- CRITICIZE22
- MAXIMIZE28
- STABILIZE20
One letter away
- RECOGNISE12
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.