If you describe a person or their work as distinguished, you mean that they have been very successful in their career and have a good reputation.
...a distinguished academic family.
...a distinguished career.
Synonyms: eminent, great, important, noted More Synonyms of distinguished
2. adjective
If you describe someone as distinguished, you mean that they look very noble and respectable.
He looked very distinguished.
...a distinguished gentleman.
Synonyms: marked, striking, signal, extraordinary More Synonyms of distinguished
distinguished in British English
(dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt)
adjective
1.
noble or dignified in appearance or behaviour
2.
eminent; famous; celebrated
distinguished in American English
(dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃt)
adjective
1.
celebrated; eminent
2.
having an air of distinction
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfamous
Examples of 'distinguished' in a sentence
distinguished
The journalist went on to have a distinguished career as a broadcaster.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It was a sad end to a distinguished career.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The list of those who came through the centres and reached the first team is a long and distinguished one.
The Sun (2016)
Throughout their long and distinguished careers, critics often claimed the two talismanic England midfielders could not play alongside each other for theircountry.
The Sun (2016)
What's the point of amassing an entire career of distinguished international service if you can't use it to the advantage of your team?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This has been a tempestuous period in a distinguished riding career.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
As a distinguished historian of democratic socialism he could see that it had failed.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And working alongside such distinguished writers was thrilling.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The victim was the wife of a distinguished local gentleman.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The history of this endeavour is long and distinguished.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The editors have persuaded over forty of the most distinguished scholars in the field to contribute.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
He also had a distinguished theatre career.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She had a long and distinguished career.
The Sun (2009)
He went on to become one of the most distinguished classical scholars of his generation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His long and distinguished legal career contained numerous notable moments.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is also encouraging that a distinguished academic press has published such a book on such a subject.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
She could no longer see very well through the lenses but held up to her face it looked most distinguished.
Len Deighton Bomber
It will probably make you look distinguished and will certainly save you a great deal of time not having to shave.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some of them were distinguished academics.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She says he looks very distinguished.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His career was long and distinguished.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was also a distinguished academic, especially in castle studies.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Distinguished academics they might be, but good broadcasters they are not.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
These and other insights into a distinguished writer 's life are reason enough to read this chronological autobiography.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A golden end to a distinguished career in classical music.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As well as being a fine poet in his own right, he was also a distinguished scholar and teacher.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As a distinguished historian and polished public speaker, the bishop will be delivering a lecture or two in return for his free passage.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
After a distinguished career in public service, what's next?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
ONE of Britain's most distinguished historians has claimed that the government isfacing defeat over its controversial new history curriculum.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
distinguished
British English: distinguished ADJECTIVE
If you describe a person or their work as distinguished, you mean that they have been very successful in their career and have a good reputation.
...a distinguished academic family.
American English: distinguished
Brazilian Portuguese: eminente
Chinese: 卓著的
European Spanish: distinguido
French: distingué
German: distinguiert
Italian: eminente
Japanese: 著名な
Korean: 저명한
European Portuguese: eminente
Latin American Spanish: distinguido
All related terms of 'distinguished'
distinguish
If you can distinguish one thing from another or distinguish between two things, you can see or understand how they are different .
distinguished career
A career is the job or profession that someone does for a long period of their life.
distinguished guest
A guest is someone who is visiting you or is at an event because you have invited them.
distinguished-looking
having a dignified and attractive appearance
Distinguished Flying Cross
a decoration awarded to members of Britain's Royal Air Force for distinguished active service
Distinguished Service Cross
a decoration awarded to members of the military for courage in various countries
Distinguished Service Medal
a decoration awarded for distinguished service in various countries, with criteria varying from place to place
Distinguished Service Order
a decoration awarded to officers of Britain's army and navy for distinguished active service
Chinese translation of 'distinguished'
distinguished
(dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃt)
adj
(= eminent) 杰(傑)出的 (jiéchū de)
(in appearance) 高贵(貴)的 (gāoguì de)
distinguish
(dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃ)
vt
(frm, = identify)[details, sounds]辨别(別) (biànbié)
to distinguish one thing from another (= differentiate) 将(將)一事物与(與)另一事物区(區)别(別)开(開)来(來) (jiāng yī shìwù yǔ lìng yī shìwù qūbié kāilái)
to distinguish sb/sth from others (= set apart) 使某人/某物显(顯)得与(與)众(眾)不同 (shǐ mǒurén/mǒuwù xiǎnde yǔ zhòng bù tóng)
vi
to distinguish between truth and fiction分清事实(實)和虚(虛)构(構) (fēnqīng shìshí hé xūgòu)
to distinguish o.s.出名 (chūmíng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
dignified in appearance or behaviour
a distinguished academic family
Synonyms
eminent
an eminent public figure
great
the great American president, Abraham Lincoln
important
an important figure in the media world
noted
Chomsky's father was a noted Hebrew scholar.
The paper has never been noted for its foreign affairs coverage.
famous
England's most famous landscape artist, John Constable
celebrated
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.
well-known
He liked to surround himself with attractive or well-known people.
prominent
a prominent member of the Law Society
esteemed
acclaimed
She has published six highly acclaimed novels.
notable
the notable occultist, Madame Blavatsky
renowned
The area is renowned for its churches.
prestigious
It's one of the most prestigious schools in the country.
elevated
big-time (informal)
famed
The city is famed for its outdoor restaurants.
conspicuous
illustrious
the most illustrious scientists of the century
major league (informal)
Opposites
common
,
unknown
,
inferior
,
undistinguished
2 (adjective)
Definition
highly respected
a distinguished gentleman
Synonyms
marked
There has been a marked increase in crimes against property.