identifying
/aɪˈden.tɪ.faɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [aɪdˈɛntəfˌaɪɪŋ] /aɪˈden.t̬ə.faɪ/ (ame, ipa) · [aɪdˈɛntəfˌaɪɪŋ] /ī-ˈden-tə-ˌfī ə-/ (ame, mw)
identifying — verb
- identifyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- identifyings3rd person singular
- identifyinging-ing form
- identifyingedpast simple
1. to look carefully at someone or something so that you can name them or describe
to look carefully at someone or something so that you can name them or describe their exact nature, often based on specific features.
Theo identified the bird by its bright blue feathers and long tail.
identify + noun + by + distinctive feature
The police asked the witness to identify the man she had seen running from the bank.
identify + noun phrase in a witness context
Scientists identified the ancient bones as belonging to a young woolly mammoth.
Fatima could not identify the strange flower growing in her grandmother's garden.
The security guard identified the visitor from her university ID card.
文法句型
identify + noun phrase
identify + noun phrase + as + noun phrase
identify + noun phrase + by + noun phrase
identify + noun phrase + from + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with from (the evidence used), by (the distinguishing feature), or as (the classification result). The passive form (be identified as/by/from) is frequent in formal and scientific writing.
常見錯誤
2. to discover and name a problem, need, cause, or other abstract thing, showing cl
to discover and name a problem, need, cause, or other abstract thing, showing clearly that it exists and what it is.
The report identified three major weaknesses in the company's delivery system.
identify + noun phrase (problems/weaknesses)
Teachers should identify students who need extra help as early as possible.
Researchers identified a clear link between long working hours and heart disease.
The review identified several ways the hospital could reduce energy costs.
After months of testing, engineers identified the main cause of the engine failure.
文法句型
identify + noun phrase (problem / need / cause / issue / factor)
identify + that-clause
用法筆記
Very common in academic, business, and technical contexts. Typical objects include problem, need, issue, cause, factor, trend, gap, risk, opportunity, and link. The that-clause pattern (e.g. 'identified that…') is widely used in formal reports.
常見錯誤
3. to feel that you share the same goals, feelings, or experiences as a particular
to feel that you share the same goals, feelings, or experiences as a particular person or group, and that you naturally belong with them.
Many young people identify with the environmental movement and its goals.
identify with + a movement / cause
Amara strongly identifies with her Nigerian heritage and family traditions.
strongly identify with + culture / heritage
Lukas identified with the main character, who had also grown up in a small town.
Immigrants often identify with both their home culture and their adopted country.
The survey showed that most teenagers identify with the music of their own generation.
- relate to
more informal — suggests understanding someone's situation without necessarily belonging to the same group
- empathize with
focuses on sharing feelings and understanding someone's emotions
文法句型
identify with + noun phrase (group / person / idea / movement)
strongly / deeply / closely identify with
用法筆記
Always used with the preposition with. Distinguish from identify as, which states a person's own declared identity (e.g. 'She identifies as a writer') rather than a feeling of belonging. This sense is not used in the passive.
常見錯誤
4. to consider or treat one thing as being the same as another thing, or to connect
to consider or treat one thing as being the same as another thing, or to connect them so closely that people see them as equal.
Some people wrongly identify material wealth with personal happiness.
identify A with B — equating two concepts
The candidate's opponents tried to identify her policies with extreme views.
Critics have long identified the filmmaker's style with the French New Wave.
In ancient myths, people identified the gods with natural forces like thunder and the sea.
The company's brand is so strong that customers identify it with quality itself.
- distinguish
to recognize and keep separate
- differentiate
to show or perceive the difference between two things
文法句型
identify + noun phrase + with + noun phrase
passive: noun phrase + be identified with + noun phrase
用法筆記
Uses the two-object pattern identify A with B. The passive form (A is identified with B) is very common. This sense is primarily used in formal and analytical contexts. Distinguish from sense 3 (RELATE TO), where the subject feels a personal connection rather than making an intellectual equation.