detect
Usage
What are other ways to say detect?
To detect implies becoming aware of something that had been obscure, secret, or concealed: to detect a flaw in reasoning. To ascertain is to verify facts by inquiry or analysis: to ascertain the truth about an event. To learn is to add to one's knowledge or information: to learn a language. The verb discover is used with objective clauses as a synonym of learn in order to suggest that the new information acquired is surprising to the learner: I discovered that she had been married before.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His research includes developing new ways to identify signs of awareness in patients who appear unresponsive, helping to push the boundaries of how scientists detect and understand conscious states.
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026
Using his acute sense of smell and training to detect a chemical compound within explosives, Magawa would then alert human handlers of mines that could be later safely removed.
From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026
The U.S. company said it would strengthen a tie-up with the country’s cybersecurity office and help the government and businesses detect cyberattacks early or preempt them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Burn-in is like a stress test of a component to detect problems.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
In further tests, Bell and Tainter were able to detect a lead bullet up to five inches away from the coils.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
