identify
Frequently Asked Questions
- recognize—to be able to tell what something is (and often to know its name), as in He immediately identified/recognized it as a monarch butterfly.
- diagnose or pinpoint, as in My mechanic was finally able to identify/diagnose/pinpoint the problem.
- associate, such as with a certain group or belief, as in She’s known for identifying/associating with the party’s reform wing.
- distinguish, as in Her height identified/distinguished her as the volleyball player.
- establish (who someone is), as in He has been identified/established as the main suspect. Relatedly, to identify someone is to figure out who they are—to establish their identity.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Mediapart didn’t identify the recipients of the messages, and The Wall Street Journal couldn’t independently confirm their authenticity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Gwent Police said officers are trying to identify those responsible for these thefts.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
We’ve seen improvements in quote automations and in using AI to identify errors in quoting and in requoting, rework, and the speed in which the quote can be produced to the customer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Even so, the researchers suggest that studying PAD more closely could eventually help identify biomarkers associated with common brain disorders and provide new clues about the biological pathways involved.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
There’s a crumbling, there’s a panic, there’s something else I can’t identify.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
As September draws to a close, though, Andrew Tyler’s team identifies a more favorable setup, and now is going tactically bullish as they anticipate more stable bond markets and the oil price trending lower.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
Earlier, an FAA spokesperson said the regulator "is working closely with Boeing and the airlines," adding that the FAA will convene an advisory board and "will take immediate action if it identifies a safety concern."
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
The team also regularly identifies missing or incorrectly installed weep vents - which are installed in exterior walls to let moisture escape.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Drawing upon the 2021 Sony Classical reissue of the contralto’s discography for RCA Victor, he identifies her best recordings, which encompass works by Bach, Brahms, Mahler and Schubert, as well as spirituals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
The reporter identifies Gale, Finnick, Boggs, Peeta, Cressida, and me by name.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Nidec earlier this month also disclosed an independent investigation report that identified a series of issues such as falsification and fabrication of testing and inspection results.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
They were identified as Ryan Cutter and Greg King by family members.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
The officers stopped the vehicle, identified Smith and took him into custody.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and other healthcare facilities are also identified as high risk locations.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
Booth was identified to detectives as the assassin.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
In addition to identifying a likely geographic origin for bats, the analysis also resolves several long-running disagreements about how different bat families are related.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026
Like Mindgard founder Garraghan, Prof Woodward believes there should be a greater focus on identifying and prosecuting humans who misuse AI.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
The cameras compile license plate numbers and other identifying information, including make, model, paint color, dents and bumper stickers.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Enveda said it found the drug by decoding the chemistry released by the body during intense physical activity, identifying a hormone that naturally suppresses appetite.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
In peacetime, however, in a well-staffed, well-stocked American emergency room, triage isn’t about withholding care from anyone; rather, it’s identifying the patients in the gravest danger and treating them first.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Vocabulary lists containing identify
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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