RECOGNIZE Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

recognize

verb

ˈre-kig-ˌnīz

Definition of recognize

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of finally recognized that we were hopelessly lost

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to honor

to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration an awards banquet to recognize local heroes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of recognize Motasem is recognized internationally today not only as a captain of Saudi industry, but also as the primary legal representative for the Khashoggi family following the brutal 2018 murder of his journalist cousin, Jamal, by the Saudi state. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 Listeners of our August 14 Planet Money episode may recognize some of today's newsletter. — Vito Emanuel, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026 However, the Needham analyst, like Jim, also recognizes the positives of not jumping on the AI buildout train with both feet. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 Acosta’s parole officer recognized him from the surveillance video, which circulated amongst law enforcement and in local news stories, and alerted authorities, police sources said. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recognize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognize

Verb

Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Instead of starting with a new component, its engineers worked to understand the hardware already available to NAVAIR.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

During opening night of his 30-show run at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Harry Styles took a moment to honor country icon Dolly Parton following her death on Tuesday.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Known widely for her philanthropic efforts, the family encouraged devoted fans to honor Parton’s legacy by donating to a special cause close to her heart — Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of honor

Verb

Early in the show, Styles thanked opening act Jamie XX and then took a moment to acknowledge a full-circle moment on this opening night.

— Karla Cote, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Council members thanked Saunders for his apology and the censure item was approved by 4-1 vote, with Saunders as the only no vote.

— James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of thank

Verb

And navigating a website might involve deciphering images or knowing what links to click.

— Jennifer D. Kobrin, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
The prevention of future pandemics relies on information from previous outbreaks, which is one reason why deciphering the origins of the COVID-19 began is important.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of decipher

Verb

Institutional investors still seem to see growth opportunities, even if some sovereign wealth funds show signs of potential pullbacks.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The expansion will see Amazon Web Services (AWS) deploy 2 million additional Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of see

Verb

Junior quarterback Aaron McCormack, who is the coach’s son and ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Justin Slaven, is among the teammates who quickly came to appreciate Harris’ talents.

— Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
One shopper appreciated the cushy insoles, while another called out how surprisingly soft the leather feels.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of appreciate

Browse Nearby Words

recognizances

recognize

recognized

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Recognize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognize. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of recognize

verb

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