What does "identify" mean?
To establish the identity of someone or something.
Identify
/aɪˈdɛn.(t)ə.faɪ/ verb
verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To establish the identity of someone or something.
- Grammar: identify is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: name, recognize, a b c labels, a single.
- Useful contrasts: anonymized data, unlabeled, unlabelled.
- Usage evidence: Some people identify success with having much money.
How to use "identify"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "identify" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "identify" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "identify" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "identify" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "identify" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "name" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "identify", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To establish the identity of someone or something. transitive
"It was hard to identify the shoplifter because the CCTV records didn't have a clear image."
- 2 consider to be equal or the same wordnet
- 3 To disclose the identity of someone. transitive
"The Associated Press will not identify the suspect of the crime because he is a juvenile."
- 4 recognize as being; establish the identity of someone or something wordnet
- 5 To establish the taxonomic classification of an organism. transitive
"A recent biological inventory uncovered 41 species and 2 subspecies of insects new to science and many species not before identified in the State of Washington."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 identify as in botany or biology, for example wordnet
- 7 To equate or make the same; to unite or combine into one. transitive
"Every precaution is taken to identify the interests of the people, and their rulers."
- 8 consider (oneself) as similar to somebody else wordnet
- 9 To have a strong affinity with; to feel oneself to be modelled on or connected to. reflexive
"Der Traum erhält eine neue Deutung, wenn sie im Traum nicht sich, sondern die Freundin meint, wenn sie sich an die Stelle der Freundin gesetzt oder, wie wir sagen können, sich mit ihr identifiziert hat."
- 10 conceive of as united or associated wordnet
- 11 To associate oneself with some group; to feel, or believe one feels, the same way. intransitive
"Now, the vast majority of us identify with the second group, the one that believes in trusting the wisdom of the people rather than taking power away from them and concentrating it in the other hands."
- 12 give the name or identifying characteristics of; refer to by name or some other identifying characteristic property wordnet
- 13 To claim an identity; to describe oneself as a member of a group; to assert the use of a particular term to describe oneself. reflexive
""The main message is that it's the interface between individuals and society that causes students who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual the most distress," said study first author Yue Zhao."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Some people identify success with having much money."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "identify"?
Common synonyms include: name, recognize, a b c labels, a single, ally, annotate.
How do you use "identify" in a sentence?
Some people identify success with having much money.
How do you pronounce "identify"?
Pronounced /aɪˈdɛn.(t)ə.faɪ/.
Etymology
From French identifier, from Medieval Latin identicus + Latin faciō.