detect
verb
de·tect di-ˈtekt 
dē-
detected; detecting; detects
transitive verb
1
: to discover the true character of
detecting drug smugglers
2
: to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
detect alcohol in the blood
Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?
3
: demodulate
intransitive verb
: to work as a detective
detectability
di-ˌtek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē
noun dē-
detectable
di-ˈtek-tə-bəl
adjective dē-
Synonyms
- ascertain
- descry
- determine
- dig out
- dig up
- discover
- dredge (up)
- ferret (out)
- find
- find out
- get
- hit (on or upon)
- hunt (down or up)
- learn
- locate
- nose out
- root (out)
- rout (out)
- rummage
- run down
- scare up
- scout (up)
- track (down)
- turn up
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The test is used to detect the presence of alcohol in the blood. This type of cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages.
Recent Examples on the Web That could give more time for the engines to reach the right temperature or the sensor to detect them. 
Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 31 Aug. 2022 As the coronavirus swept across the globe, the agency’s renowned specialists bumbled an early test to detect it. Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 The Microwave Limb Sounder instrument can measure natural signals of microwaves from Earth's atmosphere and detect them even through thick ash clouds. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 The platform relies on moderation algorithms to cull hate speech and violence, but the systems struggle to detect them in non-English posts, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) says. Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 1 Aug. 2022 If that’s the case, LUX-ZEPLIN could be able to detect them. Seth Borenstein, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 If that's the case, LUX-ZEPLIN could be able to detect them. Seth Borenstein, ajc, 7 July 2022 Some attacks are hidden, and no amount of manual checks will detect them. Jacob Loveless, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Of course, being able to detect it early doesn’t negate the need for a cure. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 22 June 2022 See More
Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 31 Aug. 2022 As the coronavirus swept across the globe, the agency’s renowned specialists bumbled an early test to detect it. Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 The Microwave Limb Sounder instrument can measure natural signals of microwaves from Earth's atmosphere and detect them even through thick ash clouds. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 The platform relies on moderation algorithms to cull hate speech and violence, but the systems struggle to detect them in non-English posts, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) says. Emily Dreibelbis, PCMAG, 1 Aug. 2022 If that’s the case, LUX-ZEPLIN could be able to detect them. Seth Borenstein, USA TODAY, 10 July 2022 If that's the case, LUX-ZEPLIN could be able to detect them. Seth Borenstein, ajc, 7 July 2022 Some attacks are hidden, and no amount of manual checks will detect them. Jacob Loveless, Forbes, 27 June 2022 Of course, being able to detect it early doesn’t negate the need for a cure. Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 22 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin detectus, past participle of detegere to uncover, detect, from de- + tegere to cover — more at thatch
First Known Use
1574, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
detect
verb
de·tect di-ˈtekt
detected; detecting
: to learn that something or someone is or was there
detect smoke
detects
verb
as in finds
to come upon after searching, study, or effort I can detect just a hint of lemon in the soup Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- finds
- discovers
- learns
- locates
- determines
- ascertains
- gets
- rummages
- runs down
- finds out
- descries
- turns up
- digs out
- noses out
- digs up
- scares up
- espies
- tracks (down)
- spots
- seeks
- ferrets (out)
- dredges (up)
- routs (out)
- sights
- scouts (up)
- hunts (down or up)
- hits (on or upon)
- roots (out)
- looks for
- searches (for or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misses
- overlooks
- loses
- misplaces
- passes over
- mislays
- missets