...the myth of Columbus as the heroic discoverer of the Americas 500 years ago. [+ of]
Synonyms: inventor, author, creator, originator More Synonyms of discover
Synonyms: explorer, pioneer More Synonyms of discover
4. verb
If you say that someone has discovered a particular activity or subject, you mean that they have tried doing it or studying it for the first time and that they enjoyed it.
I wish I'd discovered photography when I was younger. [VERB noun]
Discover the delights and luxury of a private yacht. [VERB noun]
5. verb [usually passive]
When a actor, musician, or other performer who is not well-known is discovered, someone recognizes that they have talent and helps them in their career.
The Beatles were discovered in the early 1960's. [beVERB-ed]
discover in British English
(dɪˈskʌvə)
verb(tr; may take a clause as object)
1.
to be the first to find or find out about
Fleming discovered penicillin
2.
to learn about or encounter for the first time; realize
she discovered the pleasures of travel
3.
to find after study or search
I discovered a leak in the tank
4.
to reveal or make known
Derived forms
discoverable (disˈcoverable)
adjective
discoverer (disˈcoverer)
noun
discover in American English
(dɪˈskʌvər)
verb transitive
1.
to be the first to find out, see, or know about
2.
to find out; learn of the existence of; realize
3.
to be the first nonnative person to find, come to, or see (a continent, river, etc.)
4.
to bring to prominence; make famous
5.
a. Rare
to reveal; disclose; expose
b. Archaic
to uncover
SIMILAR WORDS: learn
Derived forms
discoverable (disˈcoverable)
adjective
discoverer (disˈcoverer)
noun
Word origin
ME discoveren < OFr descovrir < LL discooperire, to discover, reveal: see di-1 & cover
Examples of 'discover' in a sentence
discover
In these organisations you will discover diverse teams finding solutions to complex problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I was nervous enough about being discovered to duck under the window facing the neighbour's house.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I liked to learn about him, discovering his world.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They had discovered the first great white nursery in the North Atlantic.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What you discover about a partner adds to love.
The Sun (2011)
The performance was discovered by accident at the end of a radio show tape.
The Sun (2007)
But we also discovered you learn as much in defeat.
The Sun (2011)
Time to discover the benefits of willow bark.
The Sun (2013)
There he discovered the first digital calculators and realised that was where the future lay.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We are reading to discover more about objective reality.
Christianity Today (2000)
Medics battled in vain to save the road accident patient after discovering him lifeless.
The Sun (2008)
Needs time to discover his sharpest form.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Egypt discovered its first cases of the virus in birds last month.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They are about to discover that some of them are buying the wrong sort of ticket.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Far better to get this into the open than her discover by accident.
The Sun (2010)
So what have they discovered about each other that they did not know before?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was because we spent time discovering things about each other.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
As you become more consistent do take the time to discover how far you do hit each club.
Lewis, Beverly Winning Golf for Women (1993)
Thankfully it was discovered in time.
The Sun (2015)
His confidence was at an alltime low after years of doing temp jobs until a construction company hired him and he discovered learning.
The Sun (2010)
The loophole she has discovered is to find an activity that constitutes self-employment according to the court.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813)
I discovered by accident that its peppery flavour is complemented by coriander.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What's important is to discover why doctors find themselves in this situation and really look at the conversations doctors have with their patients.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The first boat was discovered in 1954 on the southern side of the pyramid; the second is on the western side.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
discover
British English: discover /dɪˈskʌvə/ VERB
If you discover something that you did not know about before, you become aware of it or learn of it.
She discovered that they'd escaped.
American English: discover
Arabic: يَكْتَشِفُ
Brazilian Portuguese: descobrir
Chinese: 发现
Croatian: otkriti
Czech: zjistit
Danish: opdage
Dutch: ontdekken
European Spanish: descubrir
Finnish: löytää
French: découvrir
German: entdecken
Greek: ανακαλύπτω
Italian: scoprire
Japanese: 発見する
Korean: 발견하다
Norwegian: oppdage
Polish: odkryć
European Portuguese: descobrir
Romanian: a descoperi
Russian: открывать
Latin American Spanish: descubrir
Swedish: upptäcka
Thai: ค้นพบ
Turkish: keşfetmek
Ukrainian: виявляти
Vietnamese: phát hiện
Chinese translation of 'discover'
discover
(dɪsˈkʌvəʳ)
vt
发(發)现(現) (fāxiàn)
to discover that ... (= find out) 发(發)现(現) ... (fāxiàn ... )
to discover how to do sth发(發)现(現)如何做某事 (fāxiàn rúhé zuò mǒushì)
discover,find 和 find out 都可以表示 "发现"。 He discovered the whole school knew about it ... The young child finds that noise attracts attention ... We found out that she was wrong.discover 比 find 更正式，多用于科研文章或正式的调查报告中，比如 discover 某种疾病的治疗方法。还可以用 discover 表示意外地发现某物。 This well-known flower was discovered in 1903. 如果你看不到你想找的东西，可以说你无法 find 它，而不能用 discover 或 find out。 I'm lost - I can't find the bridge. 可以说某人 find out 某个事实，而不能用 find 和 discover。 I found out the train times.
1 (verb)
Definition
to learn about for the first time
As he discovered, she had a brilliant mind.
Synonyms
find out
see
I'd better go and see if she's all right.
learn
They learned of his military service from archive records.
reveal
spot
He left the party seconds before smoke was spotted coming up the stairs.
determine
The investigation will determine what really happened.
notice
People should not hesitate to contact the police if they notice anything suspicious.
realize
recognize
I recognize my own shortcomings.
perceive
I perceived a number of changes.
detect
He could detect a certain sadness in her face.
disclose
clapboard façades that revolve to disclose snug interiors
uncover
discern
Under the bridge we could just discern a shadowy figure.
ascertain
Try to ascertain what services the bank is offering.
suss (out) (slang)
get wise to (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to find after study or search
The suitcase was discovered on a roadside outside the city.
Synonyms
find
The police also found a pistol.
come across
uncover
Auditors said they had uncovered evidence of fraud.
track down
unearth
No evidence has yet been unearthed.
turn up
dig up
come upon
chance on
stumble on
bring to light
light upon
3 (verb)
Definition
to be the first to find or find out about
Scientists discovered a way of forming the image in a thin layer on the surface.
Synonyms
invent
He invented the first electric clock.
develop
Several countries developed a revised budget.
come up with
design
We may be able to design a course to suit your particular needs.
pioneer
the scientist who invented and pioneered DNA tests
devise
We devised a scheme to help him.
originate
No-one knows who originated this story.
contrive
The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to justify price increases.
hit on
conceive of
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ascertain
Definition
to find out definitely
Try to ascertain what services the bank is offering.
Synonyms
find out,
learn,
discover,
determine,
confirm,
settle,
identify,
establish,
fix,
verify,
make certain,
suss (out) (slang),
ferret out
in the sense of contrive
Definition
to devise or construct ingeniously
The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to justify price increases.
Synonyms
devise,
plan,
fabricate,
create,
design,
scheme,
engineer,
frame,
manufacture,
plot,
construct,
invent,
improvise,
concoct,
wangle (informal),
effect,
bring about,
hit upon
in the sense of design
Definition
to plan and make (something) artistically
We may be able to design a course to suit your particular needs.