Nearby Words
Synonyms
adjective
1.
made conspicuous by excellence; noted; eminent; famous: a distinguished scholar.
2.
having an air of distinction, dignity, or eminence: a distinguished old gentleman.
3.
conspicuous; marked.
Related forms
dis·tin·guished·ly, adverb
non·dis·tin·guished, adjective
well-dis·tin·guished, adjective
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Distinguished
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Example Sentences
- The idea that religion can bring material advantages has a distinguished history.
- Antarctic terns can be distinguished by their bright red bills, feet, and legs.
- The writing throughout these tales is controlled and powerful, and distinguished by a rare poetic ability.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
verb (used with object)
1.
to mark off as different (often followed by from or by): He was distinguished from the other boys by his height.
2.
3.
to perceive clearly by sight or other sense; discern; recognize: He could not distinguish many of the words.
4.
to set apart as different; be a distinctive characteristic of; characterize: It is his Italian accent that distinguishes him.
5.
EXPANDto make prominent, conspicuous, or eminent: to distinguish oneself in battle.
6.
to divide into classes; classify: Let us distinguish the various types of metaphor.
7.
COLLAPSEArchaic. to single out for or honor with special attention.
verb (used without object)
8.
to indicate or show a difference (usually followed by between).
9.
to recognize or note differences; discriminate.
Origin:
1555–65; extension, by -ish2, of Middle English disting(u)en (< Anglo-French, Middle French distinguer) < Latin distinguere; see distinct
1555–65; extension, by -ish2, of Middle English disting(u)en (< Anglo-French, Middle French distinguer) < Latin distinguere; see distinct
Related forms
dis·tin·guish·a·ble, adjective
dis·tin·guish·a·ble·ness, dis·tin·guish·a·bil·i·ty, noun
dis·tin·guish·a·bly, adverb
dis·tin·guish·er, noun
dis·tin·guish·ment, noun
EXPANDin·ter·dis·tin·guish, verb (used with object)
non·dis·tin·guish·a·ble, adjective
non·dis·tin·guish·a·ble·ness, noun
non·dis·tin·guish·a·b·ly, adverb
pre·dis·tin·guish, verb (used with object)
re·dis·tin·guish, verb
un·dis·tin·guish·a·ble, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
2. Distinguish, differentiate, discriminate suggest an attempt to analyze characteristic features or qualities of things. To distinguish is to recognize the characteristic features belonging to a thing: to distinguish a light cruiser from a heavy cruiser. To discriminate is to perceive the particular, nice, or exact differences between things, to determine wherein these differences consist, and to estimate their significance: to discriminate prejudiced from unprejudiced testimony. To differentiate is to point out exactly and in detail the differences between (usually) two things: The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that it is hard to differentiate one from another.
2. Distinguish, differentiate, discriminate suggest an attempt to analyze characteristic features or qualities of things. To distinguish is to recognize the characteristic features belonging to a thing: to distinguish a light cruiser from a heavy cruiser. To discriminate is to perceive the particular, nice, or exact differences between things, to determine wherein these differences consist, and to estimate their significance: to discriminate prejudiced from unprejudiced testimony. To differentiate is to point out exactly and in detail the differences between (usually) two things: The symptoms of both diseases are so similar that it is hard to differentiate one from another.
Antonyms
2. confuse.
2. confuse.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To distinguished
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
distinguish
1560s, from M.Fr. distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, from L. distinguere "to separate between, separate by pricking," from dis- "apart" + -stinguere "to prick." The suffix -ish is due to the influence of many verbs in which it is the equivalent of O.Fr. -iss, ultimately from L. inchoative suffix -iscere
EXPAND(this is also the case in extinguish, admonish, and astonish). Related: Distinguishing.
distinguished
pp. adj. from distinguish; originally "nobly impressive," special sense of "famous, celebrated," recorded from 1714.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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