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Distinguish vs Acknowledge - What's the difference?

distinguish | acknowledge |

As verbs the difference between distinguish and acknowledge

is that distinguish is to see someone or something as different from others while acknowledge is to admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a god.

distinguish

English

Verb

  • To see someone or something as different from others.
  • * {{quote-book, author=De Lacy O'Leary, title=, year=1922
    • , passage=It had begun to take a leading place even in the days of the Ptolemies, and in scientific, as distinguished from purely literary work, it had assumed a position of primary importance early in the Christian era.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
    • , author=(Jeremy Bernstein) , title=A Palette of Particles , volume=100, issue=2, page=146 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier.}}
  • To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.
  • To make oneself noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.
  • * 1784 : William Jones, The Description and Use of a New Portable Orrery, &c. , PREFACE
    • THE favourable reception the Orrery has met with from Per?ons of the fir?t di?tinction, and from Gentlemen and Ladies in general, has induced me to add to it ?everal new improvements in order to give it a degree of Perfection; and di?tingui?h it from others; which by Piracy, or Imitation, may be introduced to the Public.
  • (obsolete) To make to differ.
  • * Bible, 1 Cor. iv. 7 (Douay version)
    • Who distinguisheth thee?

    Usage notes

    In sense “see a difference”, more casual than differentiate or the formal discriminate; more casual is “tell the difference”.

    Synonyms

    (see a difference) differentiate, discriminate

    Derived terms

    * distinguished * distinguishable * distinguishness

    Related terms

    * distinct * distinction

    Antonyms

    * (to see someone or something as different from others) confuse

    External links

    * *

    acknowledge

    English

    Alternative forms

    * acknowledg (obsolete)

    Verb

    (acknowledg)
  • To admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth; to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a god.
  • :* I acknowledge my transgressions. - ''Psalm 51:3 .
  • :* ''For ends generally acknowledged to be good. -
  • To own or recognize in a particular quality, character or relationship; to admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.
  • :* In all thy ways acknowledge Him. - ''Proverbs 3:6
  • :* By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. - , III-v
  • To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to acknowledge a favor.
  • :* ''They his gifts acknowledged none. -
  • To notify receipt, as of a letter.
  • To own as genuine or valid; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledge a deed.

    • Usage notes

    * Acknowledge'' is opposed to keep back, or conceal, and supposes that something had been previously known to us (though perhaps not to others) which we now feel bound to lay open or make public. Thus, a man ''acknowledges'' a secret marriage; one who has done wrong ''acknowledges'' his fault; and author ''acknowledges'' his obligation to those who have aided him; we ''acknowledge our ignorance. * Recognize'' supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but that now we know it (as it were) anew, or receive and admit in on the ground of the evidence it brings. Thus, we ''recognize'' a friend after a long absence. We ''recognize'' facts, principles, truths, etc., when their evidence is brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men usually ''recognize'' the providence of God in seasons of danger. A foreign minister, consul, or agent, of any kind, is ''recognized on the ground of his producing satisfactory credentials. * See also confess

    Synonyms

    * avow, proclaim, recognize, own, admit, allow, concede, confess

    Derived terms

    * acknowledgeable * acknowledged * acknowledgedly * acknowledge the corn * acknowledged

    Related terms

    * acknowledgment

    References

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