classify

/ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈklæsɪfaɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkla-sə-ˌfī/ (ame, mw)

classify — verb

  • classifypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • classifieshe / she / it
  • classifiedpast simple
  • classifying-ing form

1. to put people or things into a set of categories so that each one is grouped wit

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to put people or things into a set of categories so that each one is grouped with others that share the same qualities.

例句

Librarians classify each book by topic, such as history, science, or art.

classify + by + topic/category

The hospital classifies patients by how urgent their medical needs are.

同義詞
  • categorize

    very similar, but 'categorize' can be looser and less systematic than 'classify'

  • sort

    more about physically arranging or separating by a simple criterion, often less formal

  • group

    simpler and more general; focuses on putting together rather than assigning labels

反義詞
  • mix

    to combine different types together rather than separating them

  • lump together

    to treat different items as the same group without distinction

文法句型

classify + object + into + plural noun phrase

classify + object + as + complement

用法筆記

Frequently occurs in scientific, academic, library, and commercial contexts. The object names what is being grouped, followed either by into + the set of categories or by as + the specific label assigned.

常見錯誤

❌I classified the books in alphabetical order.
✅I sorted the books in alphabetical order.
💡'sort' describes physical arrangement by a simple rule; 'classify' means grouping by type or shared qualities.
❌Please classify these names from oldest to youngest.
✅Please rank these names from oldest to youngest.
💡'rank' arranges items along a scale; 'classify' assigns them to categories that are not ordered by level.

2. to mark government, military, or corporate information as officially secret so t

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to mark government, military, or corporate information as officially secret so that only authorised people may see it.

例句

The government classified the report on the new defence system as top secret.

passive: classified as + secrecy level

Military officials classified the documents about troop movements to protect national security.

同義詞
  • restrict

    broader; means limiting access without the official secrecy process

  • withhold

    focuses on not releasing information, not on the labelling process

反義詞
  • declassify

    the direct opposite — to remove official secrecy status from information

  • release

    to make information available, often after declassification

文法句型

be classified + as + adjective (secret/confidential)

classify + document/information

用法筆記

Commonly appears in the passive voice (the documents were classified). The secrecy level follows as: classified as confidential, classified as restricted. This sense is limited to official or institutional contexts — not used for personal secrets.

常見錯誤

❌My sister classified her diary under her bed.
✅My sister hid her diary under her bed.
💡'classify' in this sense is only used for official secrecy, not for hiding personal items.
❌The teacher classified the exam scores.' (when meaning 'graded').
✅The teacher graded the exam scores.
💡'classify' does not mean to evaluate or assign marks.