identify
verb
iden·ti·fy
ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī 
ə-
identified; identifying; identifies
1
a
: to perceive or state the identity of (someone or something)
"It's the young man!" I thought, feeling my heart shoot as I identified him.—
Charlies Dickens
Charlies DickensMr. Mace identified the phial handed him by Counsel as that sold by him to "Mr. Inglethorp."—Agatha Christie
Agatha ChristieHitters say the spitball is easily identified because, while it has the speed of a fastball, it scarcely rotates.—Ron Fimrite
Ron Fimrite
b(1)
: to ascertain the identity of (someone or something that is unfamiliar or unknown)
He was able to quickly identify the problem.
Police have identified a person of interest.
Dr. McGovern explains that "identifying the cause of the disease is a breakthrough. …"—The Chronicle of the Horse
The Chronicle of the Horse
(2)
: to determine the taxonomic position or category of (a biological specimen)
We were able to identify the plant as belonging to the nightshade family.
2
a
: to conceive as united (as in spirit, outlook, or principle)
These groups are identified with conservation.
b
: to cause to be or become identical
identified her interests with theirs
Sometimes people identify success with money, but for me it's giving of yourself.—Lorna E. Barnes
Lorna E. BarnesIn some strange way the boat became identified with himself, and just as it would have been useless for him to get up and steer the boat, so was it useless for him to struggle any longer with the irresistible force of his own feelings.—Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf1
: to feel a sense of unity (as of interests, purpose, or effect) and close emotional association : to engage in psychological identification
Many readers identify with the hero of a novel.
I could identify with the anxiety she was experiencing.
2
: to have or assert an identity of a specified kind
Of the high school students who participated, 77% identified as female, 20% identified as male, 2% identified as nonbinary …—Elizabeth Beyer
Elizabeth Beyer3
archaic
: to be or become the same
… new channels of communication will be opened between the States, the lines of separation will disappear, their interests will be identified, and their union cemented by new and indissoluble bonds.—Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Examples of identify in a Sentence
She identified the dog as her lost pet.
He was able to correctly identify the mushroom.
The witness positively identified the suspect in the crime.
The corpse was identified on the basis of dental records.
They could not identify the source of the quotation.
They had no difficulty in identifying the problem.
We began by identifying what we needed for the job.
We need to identify the causes of unemployment.
Recent Examples on the Web
Instagram has rolled out tools that allow users to identify and categorize which of their followers could be spam accounts, and ban entire groups of followers at once.
—Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 17 Nov. 2024
At each location, staff and volunteers work to identify community needs, recruit personnel, procure critical equipment and material items, and coordinate the overall response.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
By coaching his men (and one woman) in using enticements, threats, and violence to flip lower-level, lower-commitment IRA volunteers, Kitson visually identifies not just his highest-priority targets, Brendan Hughes and Gerry Adams, but all of the men of D Company.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Rather than asking the reader to identify the important information, the candidate decides which points are most relevant and highlights that data.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for identify 
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Will McCurdy, PCMAG, 17 Nov. 2024
At each location, staff and volunteers work to identify community needs, recruit personnel, procure critical equipment and material items, and coordinate the overall response.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
By coaching his men (and one woman) in using enticements, threats, and violence to flip lower-level, lower-commitment IRA volunteers, Kitson visually identifies not just his highest-priority targets, Brendan Hughes and Gerry Adams, but all of the men of D Company.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Rather than asking the reader to identify the important information, the candidate decides which points are most relevant and highlights that data.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for identify
Dictionary Entries Near identify
Cite this Entry
“Identify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identify. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
identify
verb
iden·ti·fy
ī-ˈdent-ə-ˌfī
ə-ˈdent-
identified; identifying
1
: to think of as united (as in spirit or principle)
groups identified with conservation
2
: to find out or show the identity of
identified the dog as her lost pet
3
: to think of oneself as having the same problems and feelings as someone else
identify with a character in a story
Medical Definition
identify
verb
iden·ti·fy
ī-ˈdent-ə-ˌfī, ə-
identified; identifying
: to determine the taxonomic position of (a biological specimen)
: to undergo or experience psychological identification
identify with the hero of a novel
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