identify

identify [ahy-den-tuh-fahy, ih-den-] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object), i·den·ti·fied, i·den·ti·fy·ing.

1. to recognize or establish as being a particular person or thing; verify the identity of: to identify handwriting; to identify the bearer of a check.
2. to serve as a means of identification for: His gruff voice quickly identified him.
3. to make, represent to be, or regard or treat as the same or identical: They identified Jones with the progress of the company.
4. to associate in name, feeling, interest, action, etc. (usually followed by with): He preferred not to identify himself with that group.
5. Biology. to determine to what group (a given specimen) belongs.
6. Psychology. to associate (one or oneself) with another person or a group of persons by identification.

verb (used without object), i·den·ti·fied, i·den·ti·fy·ing.

7. to associate oneself in feeling, interest, action, etc., with a specified group or belief system (usually followed by as or with): He identifies as bisexual. She identifies with feminism. My family identifies Hispanic.
8. to experience psychological identification: The audience identified with the play’s characters.

Origin of identify 1635–45; Medieval Latin identificāre, equivalent to identi(tās) identity + -ficāre -fy Related formsi·den·ti·fi·a·ble, adjectivei·den·ti·fi·a·bil·i·ty, i·den·ti·fi·a·ble·ness, nouni·den·ti·fi·er, nouno·ver·i·den·ti·fy, verb, o·ver·i·den·ti·fied, o·ver·i·den·ti·fy·ing.pre·i·den·ti·fy, verb (used with object), pre·i·den·ti·fied, pre·i·den·ti·fy·ing.re·i·den·ti·fy, verb (used with object), re·i·den·ti·fied, re·i·den·ti·fy·ing.un·i·den·ti·fi·a·ble, adjectiveun·i·den·ti·fi·a·bly, adverbun·i·den·ti·fied, adjectiveun·i·den·ti·fy·ing, adjectivewell-i·den·ti·fied, adjectiveSynonyms for identify 1. distinguish, place, know, determine. Examples from the Web for well-identified Contemporary Examples of well-identified

“If they can start moving guys who are well-identified conservatives” on the issue, that could make a difference, says Cole.

House Republicans Brace for Crazy-Making Intraparty Immigration Fight

Michelle Cottle

June 27, 2013

British Dictionary definitions for well-identified identify verb -fies, -fying or -fied (mainly tr)

1. to prove or recognize as being a certain person or thing; determine the identity of
2. to consider as the same or equivalent
3. (also intr often foll by with) to consider (oneself) as similar to another
4. to determine the taxonomic classification of (a plant or animal)
5. (intr usually foll by with) psychol to engage in identification

Derived Formsidentifiable, adjectiveidentifiably, adverb Word Origin and History for well-identified identify v.

1640s, “regard as the same,” from French identifier, from identité (see identity). Sense of “recognize” first recorded 1769. Meaning “make one (with), associate (oneself)” is from 1780. Sense of “serve as means of identification” is attested by 1886. Related: Identified; identifying.