Meaning & use
distinguished look
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
An appearance that seems formal, respectable, and slightly older or important.
Grammar: Countable noun phrase; you can say 'a distinguished look' or 'a distinguished appearance'.
Patterns
- have a distinguished look
- give someone a distinguished look
- a distinguished-looking man/woman
With his gray hair and dark suit, he had a distinguished look.
The old professor had a distinguished look that made students listen carefully.
She chose a simple black dress for a distinguished look at the ceremony.
Common combinations
- distinguished appearance
- His distinguished appearance made him seem like a judge.
- distinguished gentleman
- A distinguished gentleman in a hat opened the door for us.
- distinguished career
- She had a distinguished career in medicine.
Synonyms and how they differ
- elegant look
- Elegant focuses on style and grace, while distinguished suggests age, seriousness, and respect.
- refined look
- Refined means polished and cultured, but distinguished adds a sense of authority or importance.
Opposites
Word family
- distinguish verb
- To recognize or show a difference.
- distinguished adjective
- Successful, respected, and looking important.
Commonly confused: distinguished look or extinguished?
distinguished look vs extinguished
Extinguished means a fire or light has been put out; distinguished describes a respected appearance.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'distinguished look' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A distinguished look comes from formal, respectable appearance, such as a gray suit. The other options describe actions that do not relate to appearance.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “distinguished look”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.