Meaning of identify in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /aɪˈdɛn(t)əˌfaɪ/

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  1. Verb

    identify

    Etymology

    mid 17th century (in the sense ‘treat as being identical with’): from medieval Latin identificare, from late Latin identitas (see identity) + Latin -ficare (from facere‘make’)

    Definitions

    1. recognize as being

    Examples

    • « establish the identity of someone or something »
    • « She identified the man on the 'wanted' poster »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. give the name or identifying characteristics of

    Examples

    • « refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property »
    • « Many senators were named in connection with the scandal »
    • « The almanac identifies the auspicious months »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. consider (oneself) as similar to somebody else

    Examples

    • « He identified with the refugees »

    Derived terms

  4. 4. conceive of as united or associated

    Examples

    • « Sex activity is closely identified with the hypothalamus »

    Derived terms

  5. 5. identify as in botany or biology, for example

    Derived terms

  6. 6. consider to be equal or the same

    Examples

    • « He identified his brother as one of the fugitives »

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « Start-ups make so many mistakes that the challenge to identify the root cause of a failure is tough. But believing in your own plan is probably the worst. »
    Eric Ries
  • « Everyone can identify with a fragrant garden, with beauty of sunset, with the quiet of nature, with a warm and cozy cottage. »
    Thomas Kincade
  • « The sad truth is that the civil rights movement cannot be reborn until we identify the causes of black suffering, some of them self-inflicted. Why can't black leaders organize rallies around responsible sexuality, birth within marriage, parents reading to their children and students staying in school and doing homework? »
    Henry Louis Gates
  • « And most importantly perhaps, children can learn about their rights, share their knowledge with the children of other nations, identify problems with them and establish how they might work together to address them. »
    Carol Bellamy
  • « People here don't identify themselves by their sports team. »
    Michael Wilbon

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