0 present participle of recognize
1 to know someone or something because you have seen or heard him or her or experienced it before:
2 to accept that something is legal, true, or important:
The international community has refused to recognize (= officially accept the existence of) the newly independent nation state.
[ + (that) ] He sadly recognized (that) he would die childless.
You must recognize the seriousness of the problems we are facing.
The Queen recognized his services to his country by awarding him an MBE.
He put on a large hat and glasses as a disguise and hoped no one would recognize him.
As we drew alongside the black car, I suddenly recognized my ex-boyfriend at the wheel.
Many distant relatives, most of whom I hardly recognized, turned up for my brother's wedding.
He'd completely changed - I didn't recognize him.
The country has de facto independence now, and it will soon be recognized de jure by the world's governments.
His pre-eminence in his subject is internationally recognized.
We need to recognize that we are now living in a plural society.
