Definition of "distinguish" []

• To perceive as being different or distinct. (verb-transitive)
• To perceive distinctly; discern: distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon. (verb-transitive)
• To make noticeable or different; set apart. (verb-transitive)
• To cause (oneself) to be eminent or recognized: They have distinguished themselves as dedicated social workers. (verb-transitive)
• To perceive or indicate differences; discriminate: distinguish between right and wrong. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Now it will be that much harder to expose because the real cry will be impossible to distinguish from the false one, much like the boy who cried, “wolf.”"
• "It's distressing to see people in pain and trouble, to see families that are homeless and children who are actually starving and adults whose spirits are broken and who can't help them, and it's unnerving to realize that these are Americans not European war refugees whose pictures are also on display and in some cases impossible to distinguish from the Americans in the other photographs."
• "All the players are on the field gettings penalties and scoring goals but their uniform colors are blurred, even the umpires and field judges are difficult to distinguish from the players from where I sit."