To distinguish means to recognize or show the difference between two or more things. When you distinguish between a frog and a toad, you notice details like skin texture and body shape that set them apart. When a teacher asks you to distinguish fact from opinion in an article, she wants you to identify which statements can be proven true and which ones express someone's beliefs.

The word also means to make yourself stand out through excellence or achievement. A scientist might distinguish herself through groundbreaking research. An athlete might distinguish himself by breaking records. When someone is described as distinguished, it means they've earned respect and recognition through their accomplishments. You might meet a distinguished professor who's known worldwide for her work.

Sometimes things have distinguishing features that make them easy to identify. A zebra's stripes are its most distinguishing feature. Your best friend might have a distinguishing laugh that you'd recognize anywhere.

The key idea is separation: either separating things from each other by noticing their differences, or separating yourself from the crowd by doing something remarkably well. When you can distinguish important details from unimportant ones, or distinguish yourself through hard work and dedication, you're using your powers of observation and achievement to create clear differences.