Basic Details
Word: Distinguish
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To recognise the differences between two or more things.
Synonyms: Differentiate, distinguish between, tell apart
Antonyms: Confuse, mix up, indistinguish
Idioms and Phrases
- Distinguish oneself: To do something special that makes someone stand out. Example: "She distinguished herself in the competition by winning first place."
- Can't distinguish between: To be unable to tell the difference between two things. Example: "He can't distinguish between a cat and a dog; they both look the same to him."
Usage Examples
Example 1: It can be difficult to distinguish between identical twins, especially if they wear the same clothes.
Example 2: The teacher asked us to distinguish the main ideas in the story from the supporting details.
Example 3: To distinguish the flavours in the dish, I took a small bite and savoured each ingredient.
Fun Fact
The word "distinguish" comes from the Latin word "distinguere," which means to separate or mark out. It was first used in English around the 14th century!
Famous Quote
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." Henry David Thoreau. This quote relates to distinguishing what is truly important or meaningful in life.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "distinguish" mean?
a) To ignore differences
b) To recognise differences
c) To combine things
d) To confuse two things
Answer: b) To recognise differences
2. Which of these is a synonym for "distinguish"?
a) Confuse
b) Differentiate
c) Ignore
d) Combine
Answer: b) Differentiate
3. Which word is an antonym of "distinguish"?
a) Identify
b) Distinguish oneself
c) Confuse
d) Specify
Answer: c) Confuse
4. Which sentence uses "distinguish" correctly?
a) I can distinguish the different sounds of a piano and a guitar.
b) I distinguish my homework every day.
c) He wants to distinguish as hard as he can.
d) She was distinguished at the entrance.
Answer: a) I can distinguish the different sounds of a piano and a guitar.
5. Which idiom means to do something special and stand out?
a) Can't distinguish between
b) Distinguish oneself
c) Wear two hats
d) A horse of a different colour
Answer: b) Distinguish oneself
