identified

/aɪˈden.tɪ.faɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [aɪdˈɛntəfˌaɪd] /aɪˈden.t̬ə.faɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [aɪdˈɛntəfˌaɪd] /ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce identify (audio) ə-/ (ame, mw)

identified — verb

  • identifiedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • identifieds3rd person singular
  • identifieding-ing form
  • identifiededpast simple

1. to look at a person, body, or object and work out exactly who or what it is, oft

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to look at a person, body, or object and work out exactly who or what it is, often by checking a clue or feature.

例句

Naoko identified the missing painting from a small mark on the back of the frame.

identify + noun phrase: identify something from a specific feature

Police asked the witness to identify the suspect in a line-up at the station.

common collocation: identify a suspect

同義詞
  • recognize

    broader — covers knowing something is familiar; 'identify' adds saying exactly what it is.

  • pinpoint

    stronger — emphasises locating something precisely among many possibilities.

  • name

    simpler — focuses only on giving the label, not on the process of working it out.

反義詞
  • misidentify

    to identify wrongly; common in police and scientific contexts.

文法句型

identify + noun phrase

identify + noun phrase + as + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently passive (be identified as / by); the subject is usually a person or organisation doing the recognising, and the method is often named with 'by' or 'from'.

常見錯誤

❌The police identified about the thief in the photo.
✅The police identified the thief in the photo.
💡'identify' takes a direct object, not 'about'.

2. to notice a problem, need, or fact and make clear that it is there so that somet

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to notice a problem, need, or fact and make clear that it is there so that something can be done about it.

例句

The survey identified low pay as the main reason nurses were leaving the hospital.

identify + noun + as + cause/reason

Dewi's team identified three key risks before the new product was launched.

typical collocation: identify risks / problems

同義詞
  • pinpoint

    stronger — names the cause or problem precisely.

  • spot

    more informal — often used of noticing something quickly.

  • highlight

    shifts focus to making others aware, not just noticing.

反義詞
  • overlook

    to fail to notice a problem or need that is there.

文法句型

identify + abstract noun (problem, need, cause, trend)

用法筆記

Object must be an abstract problem-shaped noun (problem, need, risk, trend, cause, gap); distinguish from sense 1, where the object is a specific person or thing to be recognised.

常見錯誤

❌The report identified that there are too few teachers.
✅The report identified a shortage of teachers.
💡this sense takes a noun phrase, not a that-clause.

3. to feel that you share the experiences, beliefs, or struggles of another person

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to feel that you share the experiences, beliefs, or struggles of another person or group, and to say so openly.

例句

Élise strongly identifies with working-class families from her old neighbourhood.

identify with + group of people

Many young readers identify with the lonely hero of the novel.

identify with + character

同義詞
  • relate to

    more informal — common in everyday speech about feelings.

  • empathize with

    narrower — focuses on sharing feelings, not full identity.

  • sympathize with

    weaker emotional connection; more about feeling sorry for someone.

反義詞

文法句型

identify with + person/group

用法筆記

Only sense that takes the preposition 'with'; almost always intransitive in this sense. Common adverbs: 'strongly', 'closely', 'personally'.

常見錯誤

❌Many readers identify the lonely hero.
✅Many readers identify with the lonely hero.
💡this sense requires 'with'; dropping it changes the meaning to sense 1 (recognise).