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.
They relied on a computer algorithm to detect tiny, repeated dips in starlight that occur when a planet passes in front of its star.
From Science Daily • 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
It can help detect cancer at an early stage when there are no symptoms and when treatment is more effective.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
"It's always hard to be 100 percent, but we can detect more than 90 percent of what's happening in real time."
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
It could detect the heat from a cup of coffee from over five thousand feet—nearly a mile—away!
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
