identify
eye-DEHN-tih-feye
Identify (verb) means to work out or state exactly who or what someone or something is. Example: “Witnesses helped police identify the getaway car.”
verb
1
To work out or state exactly who or what someone or something is.
"Witnesses helped police identify the getaway car."
"Can you identify the bird species in this photo?"
"Can you identify your suitcase among all the others on the belt?"
2
To feel a strong connection with, or see yourself reflected in, a person or group.
"Many readers identify with the novel's awkward teenage narrator."
"Many people identify with characters who struggle to fit in at school."
"I identify strongly with her story because I grew up in the same town."
3
To describe oneself as belonging to a particular group or category.
"She identifies as an independent rather than a party member."
"He identifies as a vegetarian, though he sometimes eats fish."
"Many people in the survey identify as bilingual."
How to use identify
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo recognize and name something precisely, or to feel a close personal connection to it.
Common pairings
identify with
identify as
identify the problem
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- identifies
- Past tense
- identified
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Witnesses helped police _____ the getaway car.
Etymology
From French identifier, built on Latin idem ("the same") and facere ("to make").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for identify
See all rhymes for identify →Frequently asked questions
What does “identify” mean?
The word “identify” means to work out or state exactly who or what someone or something is. In plain terms, to recognize and name something precisely, or to feel a close personal connection to it.
How do you pronounce “identify”?
“Identify” is pronounced eye-DEHN-tih-feye (/aɪˈdɛn.(t)ə.faɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “identify” in a sentence?
Here is “identify” used in a sentence: “Witnesses helped police identify the getaway car.”
What is another word for “identify”?
Words with a similar meaning to “identify” include ID, clock, ken, to make someone, notice and recognize.
What is the opposite of “identify”?
The opposite of “identify” — its antonyms — is misken.
What part of speech is “identify”?
“Identify” is a verb.
Where does the word “identify” come from?
The word “identify” comes from Latin. From French identifier, built on Latin idem ("the same") and facere ("to make").
Is “identify” a common word?
“Identify” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between identify and recognize?
To recognize something is to realize you have seen or known it before — a familiarity response. To identify it goes a step further: you work out and state exactly what it is, often naming it precisely. You might recognize a face without being able to identify whose it is.
What is an example of identify used in a sentence?
"Police asked the witness to identify the man she had seen." Here it means to work out and confirm exactly who he was. Other everyday examples include identifying a bird from its song, identifying a fault in an engine, or identifying the key themes in a book — each pins down a precise answer.
What is the difference between identify and identify with?
The plain verb means to determine what something is: "identify the substance." Adding "with" changes the meaning to feeling connection or sympathy: "I identify with her struggle." So "identify" pins down facts, while "identify with" expresses that you relate to or share someone's experience or point of view.
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