I wonder if she will recognize me after all those years.
Source: tatoeba (24463)
Recognize
/ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/
Synonyms for "recognize" (238 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (48)
Verb(22 words)
acceptacknowledgeadmitagreeagree provisionallyallowanswerappreciateapprehendapproveassent grudginglyavowbe acquainted withbe apprised ofbe aware ofbe cognizant ofbe conscious ofbe conversant withbe informedbehold
Show 1 more word
Noun(5 words)
Strong matches (71)
Verb(22 words)
canonizesclockedcognisecommemoratedcrediteddecorateddeemsdetectsdiscerndiscerneddiscerningdiscernsdiscovereddiscoversdistinguishespiesglimpsedgreethonorizeidentified
Show 2 more words
Noun(12 words)
canonizingcollege creditconfirm verbdawnsdescryingdetectingdiscover verbhonors physics classhonors physics courseshonors physics programhonoursidentified specimen
catch sight ofcharterclap eyes oncognizecomprehendconcedeconceiveconceptualizeconfessconfirmcreditdescrydetectdeterminatediagnosediscerndiscoverdistinguishdo homageendorse
Related words (119)
Noun(27 words)
identify chemical speciesidentify three digit numbersidentifyingidentifying attributeidsissues identifiedkenningpattern instructionpattern matchedpattern spottingpatterning worksheetperceived illogicperceivingpresenting awardsradarsrealizingrewardingself aware beingsense of individualitysense of school belonging
Show 7 more words
Verb(28 words)
identify observational biasidentify purposeidentify risk factorsidentify the main ideakennedknewknowknowingknowslaurelledlegalizedlegitimateslegitimizedmake outnoticed personofficializepick outread by sightrealiserealized
Show 8 more words
kenknowknow againlay eyes onlook onlook uponmake acknowledgments ofmake outnailnamenot opposenotenoticeobserveoffer thanksownpegperceivepickpick out
Show 41 more words
Adjective(2 words)
laureledtrue understanding
Determiner(1 words)
most number sense
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acknowledge, realize, spot, accept, accredit.
- Sentence evidence is available for recognize, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "recognize".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "recognize"
Keep "recognize" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "recognize" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "recognize", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "recognize" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
32 entriesShowing 16 of 32 words.
More specific
6 entriesface recognitionlegal recognitionmemory recallofficial statuspattern recognitionsound recognition
Collocations
6 entriesrecognize a contributionrecognize a facerecognize a mistakerecognize a patternrecognize the differencerecognize the need
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesTranslations
23 translations across 18 languages.
Afrikaans
1 entries- erken verb (to acknowledge as something)
Bashkir
1 entries- таныу verb (to acknowledge as something)
Bulgarian
2 entries- зачета́ verb (to acknowledge as something)
- зачи́там verb (to acknowledge as something)
Catalan
1 entries- reconèixer verb (to acknowledge as something)
Dutch
1 entries- erkennen verb (to acknowledge as something)
Finnish
2 entries- tunnistaa verb (to acknowledge as something)
- tunnustaa verb (to acknowledge as something)
French
1 entries- reconnaître verb (to acknowledge as something)
Greek
1 entries- αναγνωρίζω verb (to acknowledge as something)
Hungarian
1 entries- elismer verb (to acknowledge as something)
Japanese
2 entries- 認める verb (to acknowledge as something)
- 認識する verb (to acknowledge as something)
Malayalam
1 entries- അംഗീകരിക്കുക verb (to acknowledge as something)
Portuguese
1 entries- reconhecer verb (to acknowledge as something)
Romanian
1 entries- recunoaște verb (to acknowledge as something)
Russian
2 entries- призна́ть verb (to acknowledge as something)
- признава́ть verb (to acknowledge as something)
Spanish
1 entries- reconocer verb (to acknowledge as something)
Ukrainian
2 entries- ви́знати verb (to acknowledge as something)
- визнава́ти verb (to acknowledge as something)
Walloon
1 entries- ricnoxhe verb (to acknowledge as something)
Zulu
1 entries- -vuma verb (to acknowledge as something)
Sample sentences
22 total sentences available.
Not having seen him before, I'll not be able to recognize him.
Source: tatoeba (28372)
While we hate force, we recognize the need for law and order.
Source: tatoeba (28807)
I couldn't recognize him at first.
Source: tatoeba (28963)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "recognize"?
Closest matches include acknowledge, realize, spot, accept, accredit.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "recognize"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.