distinguished

distinguished — adjective

1. widely respected and admired because of notable success or achievements in a par

1.形容詞B2
釋義

widely respected and admired because of notable success or achievements in a particular field or profession

例句

Ravindra received a government grant to continue his distinguished research on ocean ecosystems.

collocation: distinguished research / distinguished career

The hospital's annual charity dinner honored three distinguished members of the medical faculty.

collocation: distinguished members of [group]

同義詞
  • eminent

    slightly more formal; often used for scholars or professionals at the very top of their field

  • acclaimed

    emphasizes public praise and positive reviews from critics or peers

  • renowned

    stresses wide fame across many places; less tied to specific achievements

  • celebrated

    focuses on being well-known and frequently honored in public events

反義詞
  • unknown

    no recognition or reputation at all

  • mediocre

    of average or below-average quality, not standing out

文法句型

distinguished + noun

be distinguished + for/in

用法筆記

Frequently used before nouns such as career, service, scientist, or scholar. Can also describe creative works such as novels or films.

常見錯誤

❌She is a distinctive scientist in her field.
✅She is a distinguished scientist in her field.
💡'distinctive' means unusual or unique; 'distinguished' means respected and admired for achievements.
❌He wrote a distinguishing novel.
✅He wrote a distinguished novel.
💡'distinguishing' identifies what makes something different; 'distinguished' praises its quality.

2. having a refined, impressive appearance or way of carrying oneself that suggests

2.形容詞B2
釋義

having a refined, impressive appearance or way of carrying oneself that suggests importance, wisdom, or social standing — typically used of older people

例句

Talia was a distinguished older woman with kind eyes, silver hair, and a calm voice.

often used of older people with graceful bearing

A distinguished-looking man at the piano wore a dark suit and carried a wooden cane.

compound: distinguished-looking + physical description

同義詞
  • dignified

    general term for calm, serious, and impressive behavior; less tied to age than distinguished

  • stately

    suggests a slow, majestic, and imposing manner, often in movement

  • refined

    focuses on polished, elegant taste rather than overall bearing

反義詞
  • undignified

    lacking the calm seriousness of a distinguished appearance

  • scruffy

    untidy in appearance; the opposite of refined elegance

文法句型

distinguished + noun (person)

distinguished-looking

用法筆記

Describes a person's external appearance and demeanor, not their character or achievements. Commonly used with compound forms such as distinguished-looking. Overlaps somewhat with sense 1 when a person's success also shows in their bearing, but sense 2 focuses purely on visual impression.

常見錯誤

❌The distinguished old man gave a generous donation.' (implying appearance but using the wrong sense)
✅The distinguished old man walked slowly to the front of the hall.
💡sense 2 is about bearing and appearance; use sense 1 if the focus is on achievements.
❌She looked very distinguishing in her red dress.
✅She looked very distinguished in her red dress.
💡'distinguishing' identifies difference; 'distinguished' describes elegance.