Added 9 October 2026

recognize

/ˈɹɛk.əɡ.naɪz/ verb

In Latin: cōgnōscō, recōgnōscō First recorded: 16th century Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about recognize at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To match (something or someone which one currently perceives) to a memory of some previous encounter with the same person or thing.
I recognized his face immediately, although his voice was different.
To acknowledge the existence or legality of; to treat as valid or worthy of consideration.
The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognize Kosovo on Monday.
To acknowledge or consider (as being a certain thing or having a certain quality or property).
Slavery is widely recognized as immoral.

Borrowed from Middle French reconoistre, from Old French reconoistre, from Latin recognoscere, first attested in the 16th century. Displaced native English acknow (“to recognize, perceive as”), compare German erkennen and Swedish erkänna. Latin had rare recognizare (“to try by jury”).