recognize

verb

1. 1

   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.

   Seeing comes before words. The child looks and recognizes before it can speak.

2. 2

   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.

   The U.S. recognizes Canadian sovereignty over the islands bordering the passage but insists that the passage itself is an international waterway open to ships of all nations.

3. 3

   To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).

   Slavery is widely recognized as immoral.

   I recognize that my behaviour has been unacceptable.

4. 4

   To realize or discover the nature of something; apprehend quality in.

   In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.

5. 5

   To show formal appreciation of, as with an award, commendation etc.

   His services were recognized in a testimonial.

   The soldier was recognized in dispatches.

6. 6

   obsoleteTo review; to examine again.

   We do moste humbly submytte it [this treatise] to[…]your maiestie, to be recognised, ouersene, and corrected.

7. 7

   obsoleteTo reconnoiter.

   before the siege was layd to the Towne, of minde to recognize, he fell unawares amongst an Ambushcade

8. 8

   To have the property to bind to specific antigens.

verb

1. 1

   to cognize again

Forms

past tense

recognized

past participle

recognized

present participle

recognizing

third person singular

recognizes