Synonyms identify
identify
know ▪ recognize ▪ name ▪ make somebody/something out
These words all mean to be able to see or hear somebody/something and especially to be able to say who or what they are.
identify to be able to say who or what somebody/something is:
She was able to identify her attacker.
know to be able to say who or what something is when you see or hear it because you have seen or heard it before
Know is used especially to talk about sounds that seem familiar and when somebody recognizes the quality or opportunity that somebody/something represents: I couldn’t see who was speaking, but I knew the voice. • She knows a bargain when she sees one.
recognize to know who somebody is or what something is when you see or hear them/it, because you have seen or heard them/it before:
I recognized him as soon as he came in the room.
name to say the name of somebody/something in order to show that you know who/what they are:
The victim has not yet been named.
make somebody/something out to manage to see or hear somebody/something that is not very clear:
I could just make out a figure in the darkness.
Patterns
to identify/know/recognize somebody/something by something
to identify/recognize/name somebody/something as somebody/something
to identify/know/recognize/make out who/what/how…
to easily/barely/just identify/recognize/make out somebody/something