Pronunciation: /aɪˈdɛntəˌfaɪ/

Definitions of identify

noun an aspect of something that is recognizable or distinct

Example Sentences

A1 I can identify my friend by the sound of their laughter.

A2 Children learn to identify different animals by their unique characteristics.

B1 It is important to be able to identify potential risks in the workplace.

B2 Scientists use DNA analysis to identify the remains of ancient civilizations.

C1 The detective was able to identify the suspect based on eyewitness accounts.

C2 Experts can easily identify counterfeit currency due to subtle differences in the printing process.

verb to recognize or distinguish something

Example Sentences

A1 I can identify colors like red, blue, and yellow.

A2 She can easily identify different types of birds by their songs.

B1 Students are expected to identify key themes in the novel for their assignment.

B2 The detective was able to identify the suspect from the security footage.

C1 Experts can identify rare species of plants based on subtle differences in their characteristics.

C2 The art historian was able to identify the artist of the painting just by examining the brush strokes.

Examples of identify in a Sentence

formal It is important to correctly identify the source of the issue before implementing a solution.

informal Can you help me identify which movie this quote is from?

slang I can easily identify my best friend in a crowded room.

figurative She struggled to identify her true feelings towards him.

Grammatical Forms of identify

past tense

identified

plural

identifies

comparative

more identifiable

superlative

most identifiable

present tense

identifies

future tense

will identify

perfect tense

has identified

continuous tense

is identifying

singular

identifies

positive degree

identifiable

infinitive

to identify

gerund

identifying

participle

identified

Origin and Evolution of identify

First Known Use: 1648 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'identify' originated from the combination of the prefix 'id-' from Latin 'idem' meaning 'same' and the suffix '-ify' from Latin 'facere' meaning 'to make'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'identify' has evolved to not only mean recognizing or establishing the identity of someone or something, but also to describe the process of closely associating oneself with a particular group, idea, or characteristic.