identify
English meaning: Identify
Definition
To recognize someone or something and be able to say who or what they are.
Example
“The witness was able to identify the suspect from a row of similar photographs.”
Another example: “Many readers identify with the novel's lonely young hero.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Fairly formal; common in problem-solving, science, and security ('identify a problem', 'identify the cause', 'identify a suspect'). 'Identify with' someone means to relate to or share their feelings. Spelled the same in US and UK.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From medieval Latin 'identificare', from 'identitas' (identity).
Related Words
Common Collocations
- identify a problem
- identify the cause
- correctly identify
- identify with
- identify trends
- easily identify
Word Forms
identify (v); identified; identifies; identifying; identification (n); identity (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B