View synonyms for identify

identify

[ ahy-den-tuh-fahy, ih-den- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

identified, identifying.

to recognize or establish as being a particular person or thing; verify the identity none of:
to identify handwriting; to identify the bearer of a check.
Synonyms: determine, know, place, distinguish
to serve as a means of identification none for:
His gruff voice quickly identified him.
to make, represent to be, or regard or treat as the same or identical:
They identified Jones with the progress of the company.
to associate in name, feeling, interest, action, etc. (usually followed by with ):
He preferred not to identify himself with that group.
Biology. to determine to what group (a given specimen) belongs.
Psychology. to associate (one or oneself ) with another person or a group of persons by identification none.

verb (used without object)

identified, identifying.

to associate oneself in feeling, interest, action, etc., with a specified group or belief system (usually followed by as or with ):
He identifies as bisexual. She identifies with feminism. My family identifies Hispanic.
to experience psychological identification:
The audience identified with the play's characters.

identify

/ aɪˈdɛntɪˌfaɪ /

verb

to prove or recognize as being a certain person or thing; determine the identity of
to consider as the same or equivalent
also introften foll bywith to consider (oneself) as similar to another
to determine the taxonomic classification of (a plant or animal)
intrusually foll bywith psychol to engage in identification

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Derived Forms

iˈdentiˌfiable, adjective
iˈdentiˌfiably, adverb

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Other Word Forms

i·denti·fia·ble adjective
i·denti·fia·bili·ty i·denti·fia·ble·ness noun
i·denti·fier noun
over·i·denti·fy verb overidentified overidentifying
prei·denti·fy verb (used with object) preidentified preidentifying
rei·denti·fy verb (used with object) reidentified reidentifying
uni·denti·fia·ble adjective
uni·denti·fia·bly adverb
uni·denti·fied adjective
uni·denti·fying adjective
well-i·denti·fied adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of identify¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin identificāre, equivalent to identi(tās) identity none + -ficāre -fy none

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Simon Khalili from Woodland Hills, then disappeared into a nearby canyon, the Sheriff’s Department announced in a news release.

From Los Angeles Times

I wanted to dodge all the stereotypical perceptions about L.A. despite identifying with them.

From Los Angeles Times

"When I was talking to Clarke I definitely identified with the culture side of things, not to put your business out to the world," Antonio said.

From BBC

Mr Jacob identifies two main triggers for the violations: Pakistan often uses cover fire to facilitate militant infiltration into Indian-administered Kashmir, which has witnessed an armed insurgency against Indian rule for over three decades.

From BBC

"Serious concerns" have been identified by Northern Ireland's health watchdog regarding the delivery of care at a supported living facility in west Belfast.

From BBC

Related Words

iˈdentiˌfier Identikit

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