i recognize him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I recognize him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you are aware of someone’s identity or have seen them before. Example: "When I walked into the room, I immediately thought, I recognize him from the conference last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I recognize him from being round here.

The New York Times

But I recognize him as a superior athlete".

The New York Times - Sports

— Mark Twain Waitt, I think I recognize him from the bodega earlier.

The New Yorker

I recognize him as Al Scales Reynolds, a banker who is Star's fiancé (and no relation to me).

The New York Times - Style

"I am very conservative and do not agree with everything Mr Trump says or does, but I recognize him as the best candidate, and a great one at that," he said.

The Guardian

About her attacker she muses: "I imagine sometimes that I will know him, the man who did this to me, my architect, my artist, and when I recognize him I will stop him...

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

I recognized him immediately.

The New York Times

I recognized him.

The New Yorker

"I recognized him right away," she said.

The New York Times

And then she says, "I recognized him".

The New York Times

I recognized him; he recognized me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To convey recognition of someone known from a specific context, follow up with details like "I recognize him from the conference last year".

Common error

Avoid using "I recognize him" when you actually mean you know him well. "Recognizing" implies a basic level of familiarity, not necessarily a close relationship or detailed understanding of the person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I recognize him" functions as an independent clause expressing the speaker's ability to identify someone based on prior knowledge or experience. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I recognize him" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to express familiarity upon seeing someone. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread applicability. While the phrase is suitable for various registers, it's crucial to use it accurately, distinguishing recognition from deep knowledge. Consider alternatives like "I know him" or "I remember him" for related meanings. Its frequency in news and media reflects its relevance in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I know who he is

Focuses on knowing the person's identity rather than simply recognizing them.

I am familiar with him

Indicates a degree of acquaintance or knowledge about the person.

I know him by sight

Specifies recognition based on visual appearance alone.

I've seen him before

Highlights the act of having visually encountered the person previously.

I remember him

Emphasizes recalling the person from memory.

I'm acquainted with him

Suggests a formal or superficial level of familiarity.

He looks familiar

Shifts the focus to the person's appearance triggering recognition.

He is known to me

A more formal and passive way of stating recognition.

His face rings a bell

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey a sense of vague recognition.

I place him

Implies an attempt to recall the context in which the person was encountered.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I recognize him"?

You can use alternatives like "I know him", "I remember him", or "I've seen him before" depending on the specific context.

Is it "I recognize him" or "I recognised him"?

"I recognize him" is present tense, used when you currently recognize someone. "I recognised him" is past tense, used when you recognized someone in the past.

How to use "I recognize him" in a sentence?

You can use "I recognize him" to express that you are familiar with someone's identity or have seen them before. For example: "When I walked into the room, I immediately thought, I recognize him from the conference last year."

What's the difference between "I recognize him" and "I identify him"?

"I recognize him" implies familiarity based on a previous encounter or knowledge. "I identify him" suggests confirming his identity, possibly from a lineup or description.