identify

Universal Words verb (identifies, identifying, identified, identified) 1 (also informal ID) [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sb/sth) to recognize sb/sth and be able to say who or what they are: The bodies were identified as those of two suspected drug dealers. * She was able to identify her attacker. * Passengers were asked to identify their own suitcases before they were put on the plane. * Many of those arrested refused to identify themselves (= would not say who they were). * First of all we must identify the problem areas. 2 to find or discover sb/sth: [VN] Scientists have identified a link between diet and cancer. * As yet they have not identified a buyer for the company. * [Vwh-] They are trying to identify what is wrong with the present system. 3 [VN] ~ sb/sth (as sb/sth) to make it possible to recognize who or what sb/sth is: In many cases, the clothes people wear identify them as belonging to a particular social class. PHRASALVERBS identify with sb to feel that you can understand and share the feelings of sb else: I didn't enjoy the book because I couldn't identify with any of the main characters. identify sb with sth to consider sb to be sth: He was not the 'tough guy' the public identified him with. identify sth with sth to consider sth to be the same as sth else SYNEQUATE: You should not identify wealth with happiness. be identified with sb/sth