utmärka

Utmärka is a Swedish verb meaning to mark out, distinguish, or highlight something; to designate or set apart. It is used both in literal contexts, such as marking a feature on a map or diagram, and in figurative contexts, such as emphasizing a quality or differentiating something from others. The prefix ut- conveys outward marking or separation, while märka is the root verb meaning to notice or mark.

The phrase utmärka något kan renderas as marking it with a distinguishable feature, such as color, line, or label. It is also common with the reflexive form utmärka sig, meaning to stand out or to distinguish oneself. In professional or technical language, utmärka is often used to indicate designating or calling attention to particular elements, criteria, or results.

Relaterade ord and forms include utmärkelse, meaning an award or distinction; utmärkande, an adjective meaning distinguishing or characteristic; and utmärkt, used as an adjective in more informal Swedish to mean excellent, though loval variations exist in spelling and usage. These terms mirror the core notion of marking, differentiating, or highlighting.

Examples: Kartografer kan utmärka viktiga gränser med färg. En rapport kan utmärka de mest betydelsefulla resultaten. Hon utmärkte sig genom sin kontinuerliga insats, och tilldelades senare en utmärkelse för sitt arbete.