/ aɪˈdentɪfaɪ; NAmE / verb ( iden·ti·fies , iden·ti·fy·ing , iden·ti·fied , iden·ti·fied )
1.
(also informal ID ) [ vn ] identify sb/sth (as sb/sth) to recognize sb/sth and be able to say who or what they are :
The bodies were identified as those of two suspected drug dealers.
She was able to identify her attacker.
Passengers were asked to identify their own suitcases before they were put on the plane.
Many of those arrested refused to identify themselves (= would not say who they were) .
First of all we must identify the problem areas.
2.
to find or discover sb/sth :
[ vn ]
Scientists have identified a link between diet and cancer.
As yet they have not identified a buyer for the company.
[ v wh- ]
They are trying to identify what is wrong with the present system.
3.
[ vn ] identify sb/sth (as sb/sth) to make it possible to recognize who or what sb/sth is :
In many cases, the clothes people wear identify them as belonging to a particular social class.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- identify with sb
- identify sb with sth
- identify sth with sth
- be identified with sb/sth | identify yourself with sb/sth
••
SYNONYMS
identify
recognize ♦ make out ♦ discern ♦ pick out ♦ distinguish
These words all mean to be able to see or hear sb/sth and especially to be able to say who or what they are.
identify
to be able to say who or what sb/sth is:
She was able to identify her attacker.
recognize
to know who sb is or what sth is when you see or hear them / it, because you have seen or heard them / it before:
I recognized him as soon as he came in the room.
make sb/sth out
to manage to see or hear sb/sth that is not very clear:
I could just make out a figure in the darkness.
discern
( formal ) to recognize or know sth, especially sth that is not obvious; to manage to see or hear sb/sth that is not very clear:
It is often difficult to discern how widespread public support is.
pick sb/sth out
to recognize sb/sth from among other people or things:
See if you can pick me out in this photo.
distinguish
(usually used in negative statements) ( rather formal ) to manage to see or hear sb/sth that is not very clear:
She could not distinguish the make of the car in the fading light.
make sb/sth out or distinguish?
Distinguish is more formal than make sb/sth out and is more likely to have a noun phrase as object. Make sb/sth out is more likely to have a clause with what or who as object:
I could not distinguish her words.
•
I couldn't make out what she was saying.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to identify / recognize sb/sth as sb/sth
to identify / recognize / make out / discern / distinguish who / what / how...
to easily / barely / just identify / recognize / make out / discern / pick out / distinguish sb/sth
can / could identify / recognize / make out / discern / pick out / distinguish sb/sth
a way / means of identifying / recognizing / discerning / distinguishing sb/sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent. (in the sense treat as being identical with ): from medieval Latin identificare , from late Latin identitas (from Latin idem same) + Latin -ficare (from facere make).