discover
Usage
What are other ways to say discover?
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. To learn is to add to one's knowledge or information: to learn a language. To ascertain is to verify facts by inquiry or analysis: to ascertain the truth about an event. To detect implies becoming aware of something that had been obscure, secret, or concealed: to detect a flaw in reasoning.
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.
See Examples For:
The BBC spoke to more than 20 people to discover who he was, with the trail eventually leading to the city of Homs, and the family of a man called Hamid Abu Obeid.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
That added sensitivity could help astronomers discover more planets during their earliest stages of formation and close one of the biggest observational gaps in exoplanet science.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
In the 1949 classic, a small group of Londoners discover treasure and declare independence making them exempt from post-war rationing and other bureaucratic restrictions.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
She concludes that “the more anxious we are to discover his secret knowledge . . . the further we shall be from knowing it.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
“First, let us discover to whom this correspondence is addressed.”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Randy Marsh, meanwhile, discovers the same opportunity from the opposite direction.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
Like any naturalist, Ms. Korsgaard discovers a compensating principle—namely, that when you go looking for one wonder, you tend to find others you weren’t expecting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Marina, whose grandmother warned her away from returning to their home in Haifa, finally visits and discovers that the house both seems to know her and is making her very ill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
"It's the product of years of work by a dedicated, international team of astronomers. We're excited to share DR20 with the world and see what the community discovers with it."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
She reaches out her right hand, and here, just inside of the doorway, she discovers something big and rectangular and hard, covered with cloth.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Since Diplodocus was first discovered in the United States in 1878, casts of its skeleton have appeared in major natural history museums around the world, particularly during the early 20th century.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
The latest flooding was discovered on the day that restoration works were due to start after the last incident.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Stellantis said this week it pursued options about the return of auto production to Brampton, but discovered the scenarios were financially unfeasible.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Isaiah’s sister and aunt testified that the defendants purposely kept Isaiah out of public view because they feared what might happen if someone discovered his condition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
It was only fifty cents, and as he frantically dug into his pocket, Danny discovered he had exactly fifty cents!
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Hudson, discovering Belichick with a reporter, let out an “Oop!” and turned on her heel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
On a fine sunny day in August the old friends met for the first time since discovering they were sisters.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
When you find one that is gracious enough to host you, it can feel like discovering a rare gem in a mine of homebodies and those siloed to their own friend groups or families.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Online shoppers who try to send back their purchases are discovering surprise fees, shorter return windows and delayed refunds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
“Rain and brollies provide good cover. We’ll sneak out through the back of the building. It’s too dangerous going out the front. We can’t risk Fleetwood following and discovering that I’m staying in Bletchley.”
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Vocabulary lists containing discover
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Beowulf vocabulary
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"Return to Titanic" and "Talking with Robert Ballard"
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