have recognized him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have recognized him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of identifying or acknowledging someone in the past with relevance to the present. Example: "I have recognized him from the conference we attended last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

You wouldn't have recognized him, Ann.

The New Yorker

I'm not sure I would have recognized him.

The New York Times

Not literally, of course (and who would have recognized him if he had been there?).

The New York Times

Of course, she wouldn't have recognized him, because he was wearing a kind of robe.

The New Yorker

As of this week, more than 50 governments have recognized him.

The New York Times

Perhaps others would have recognized him right away from his outfit.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

At OfficeMax, a customer had recognized him.

The New York Times

Somebody had recognized him and turned him in.

The New Yorker

"I had recognized him from the church," Mrs. Johnson said.

The New York Times - Style

And all his other benefactors, Mr. Waters admitted, had recognized him right away.

The New York Times

But it is not the first time the club has recognized him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have recognized him" when you want to emphasize that someone was identified based on prior knowledge or experience. For instance, "Despite his disguise, I have recognized him from his distinctive voice."

Common error

Avoid using "have recognized him" when you simply mean to say you know him. "Recognize" implies identifying someone you've encountered before, not just general acquaintance. Instead use "have known him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have recognized him" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It describes a completed action of identifying someone, based on past experience. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have recognized him" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable phrase that is used to express the act of identifying someone based on a prior acquaintance or knowledge. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase appears most frequently in the context of News & Media, according to the examples analyzed. While it is not extremely common, this phrase is appropriate for both formal and informal settings and has a collection of alternative constructions such as "have identified him" available to writers seeking stylistic variation. Remember to use "have recognized him" when indicating a past event of recognition has present relevance and ensure you are not simply trying to say you know the person.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have identified him

Replaces "recognized" with "identified", focusing on the act of determining someone's identity.

have realized who he was

Emphasizes the moment of understanding someone's identity.

have spotted him

Suggests a more casual or chance encounter where someone was seen and identified.

have picked him out

Focuses on selecting him from a group.

have remembered him

Emphasizes the act of recalling someone from memory.

have recollected him

Similar to remembered, but slightly more formal.

have distinguished him

Highlights the act of differentiating him from others.

have placed him

Suggests an effort to remember where one knows the person from.

have known him

Indicates familiarity with the person, implying recognition.

have figured him out

Suggests understanding someone's character or intentions, implying recognition.

FAQs

What does "have recognized him" mean?

The phrase "have recognized him" means that someone has identified a person based on a previous encounter or knowledge of them. It implies a process of remembering or associating characteristics with a particular individual.

Is it correct to say "have recognized him"?

Yes, the phrase "have recognized him" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard present perfect tense structure, indicating an action completed at some point in the past that has relevance to the present.

What are some alternatives to "have recognized him"?

Alternatives to "have recognized him" include "have identified him", "have spotted him", or "have remembered him", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "have recognized him" in a sentence?

You can use "have recognized him" in a sentence like this: "Even though he had aged, I "have recognized him" from his distinctive eyes."