WordWeb Online

1. Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority
   "We do not recognize your gods";
   - acknowledge, recognise [Brit], know
    
2. Be fully aware or cognizant of
   - recognise [Brit], realize, realise [Brit], agnize [archaic], agnise [Brit, archaic]
    
3. See or hear differences; identify a particular part or parts of a whole; detect with difficulty
   - spot, recognise [Brit], distinguish, discern, pick out, make out, tell apart
    
4. Perceive to be the same
   - recognise [Brit]
    
5. Grant credentials to
   "The Regents officially recognized the new educational institution"; "recognize an academic degree";
   - accredit, recognise [Brit]
    
6. Express greetings upon meeting someone
   - greet, recognise [Brit]
    
7. Express obligation, thanks, or gratitude for
   "We must recognize the kindness she showed towards us";
   - acknowledge, recognise [Brit]
    
8. Exhibit recognition for (an antigen or a substrate)
   - recognise [Brit]
    
9. Show approval or appreciation of
   "My work is not recognized by anybody!"; "The best student was recognized by the Dean";
   - recognise [Brit]

Derived forms: recognized, recognizes, recognizing

Type of: accept, accost, appreciate, be, buttonhole [informal], call back, call up, certify, cognise [Brit], cognize, give thanks, know, licence [Brit, Cdn], license, nobble [Brit, informal], prize, recall, recollect, remember, retrieve, thank, think, treasure, value

Encyclopedia: Recognize