1Find unexpectedly or during a search.

1. 1.1 Become aware of (a fact or situation)
   the courage to discover the truth and possibly be disappointed

   with clause it was a relief to discover that he wasn't in

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The only problem now was what he was going to do with this newly discovered fact.
   • I am worried that it would be a traumatic experience for her son to discover these facts as an adult.
   • Bruised and shaken, Elliot heads home for some clean clothes, and discovers his situation is worse than he had realised…
   • Applications such as this, if allowed to proceed, would result in endless litigation, as events unfold, and facts are discovered.
   • It's also an opportunity to discover fascinating facts about mammal behaviour and find out just where humans fit in amongst the diversity that exists in the world of the warm-blooded.
   • That in itself can be extremely dangerous, especially if someone was to discover the fact.
   • In answering these questions, it would be reassuring, in a way, to report that the basic facts were discovered only after the war, but the truth is otherwise.
   • I felt my morale lifting by discovering this simple fact.
   • While skimming through an article about ordering paper maps online I discovered a fact that was new to me.
   • The goal of science, which it sometimes reaches, is to discover facts that belong to nature.
   • After he discovers the fact (as he thinks) of his birth, Daniel is sent to Eton.
   • Ideally, education provides one with the ability to determine and discover facts about the real world.
   • Think about all the men you know and you may discover an interesting fact about male facial shapes.
   • I did actually discover an interesting fact about beaches.
   • I followed my dad into the kitchen to realize my mother had discovered the same fact.
   • You could find out that the student has simply lost interest in dance, or maybe you will discover a situation that needs your attention.
   • It helps the student to learn how to see and discover details.
   • The police had to release the five after discovering that fact.
   • However, not every newly discovered fact will support an order setting aside a judgment under this Rule.
   • At first they were told she could keep the baby despite having taken one of the pills but the next day they discovered the situation was irretrievable.

   Synonyms

   find out, come to know, learn, realize, recognize, see, ascertain, work out, fathom out, detect, determine, spot, notice, perceive

   dig up/out, ferret out, root out, nose out, dredge up

   reveal, disclose

   informal get wise to the fact, get wind of the fact, have an aha moment, figure out, sniff out, rumble, tumble to

   British informal twig, suss out

   North American informal dope out
2. 1.2 Be the first to find or observe (a place, substance, or scientific phenomenon)
   Fleming discovered penicillin early in the twentieth century

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Therefore, efforts to discover such phenomena were undertaken mainly for polymorphism data from regions of low recombination.
   • Scientists have discovered a gene which raises the risk of heart disease among men who smoke up to four times, it was revealed today.
   • Scientists call this recently discovered phenomenon gene silencing.
   • Since discovering this phenomenon, scientists have sought new ways to prevent or overcome this resistance.
   • Scientists have discovered many genes that play important roles in human diseases.
   • Try as they might, scientists in hundreds of laboratories around the world failed to discover that substance by classical approaches.
   • With every passing phase, life becomes more complex in the sense that it allows man to either stumble upon or to consciously discover new phenomena and substance.
   • Scientists have discovered a brainless mud worm with DNA remarkably similar to that of humans, indicating we share a common ancestor.
   • Once these drugs were discovered a few scientists began to examine their effects on brain chemistry.
   • Louis Pasteur unexpectedly discovered the principle of vaccination in 1879.
   • In 1882, scientists using microscopes discovered the chromosomes separately.
   • Scientists have discovered an ingredient in red wine that extends the lifespan of baker's yeast by up to 80 per cent.
   • The ingredient discovered by the scientists is called theobromine, a derivative found in cocoa.
   • Scientists have discovered a region in the brain which receives stimulation from the body.
   • A hitherto unknown worm that survives without oxygen was also discovered by a scientific team.
   • Scientists in Yorkshire have discovered a defective gene which they believe is a major cause of tunnel vision.
   • It begins by describing how heroin was discovered through scientific experimentation in Germany, and its initial uses as a medical aid.
   • Scientists studying animals have discovered genes which control obesity.
   • In 1901 he isolated adrenaline from the supradrenal gland and was the first scientist to discover gland hormones in pure form.
   • The phenomenon was discovered when researchers tested the blood pressure of shoppers at three supermarkets before they started a trek round the aisles.

   Synonyms

   hit on, come up with, invent, originate, devise, design, contrive, conceive of

   pioneer, develop
3. 1.3 Show interest in (an activity or subject) for the first time.
   a teenager who has recently discovered fashion

   Example sentencesExamples

   • At the same time, there's a sense of exclusiveness in discovering a band or a singer who you believe is speaking directly to you about your life.
   • Away from football, for the first time in 20 years, he wanted to discover new activities, like literature and the theatre.
   • I've only recently discovered his work; this one I enjoy for the taste it has of the city and the artists that work within it.
   • They have recently discovered a new method of Healing, which has been used in America for 27 years.
   • The toddler just sucked his thumb and discovered his own entertainment.
   • Ami's tale concerned a day at the lake - and the newly discovered joys of birding.
   • But one definite highlight was discovering her work.
   • Peter has discovered a subject: medieval thinking about demography.
   • A friend of mine has discovered the joys of Japanese eggplants.
   • He will speak on reaching peak performance and enabling one to discover one's inner potential.
   • I've only discovered his work over the last few months and I can't recommend him highly enough.
   • In search of answers, she turned to research in her native Sweden and discovered the work of a local Professor.
   • By chance we recently discovered the work of a guy who is using his blogs for something utterly obsessive and brilliant.
   • Obviously, there isn't much hope for religious reporting when the mainstream media is just now discovering the issues of the turn of the 20th century.
   • If you don't have people like me out there telling some of the stories, you're not going to have people who had broader interest discovering those subjects.
   • It was only last summer that I discovered the band and it was out of print already.
4. 1.4 Be the first to recognize the potential of (an actor or performer)
   I discovered the band back in the mid 70s

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Yet Elvis was not by any stretch the only artist discovered by him.
   • He should be recognized for discovering the young man.
   • When she moved to Dublin she continued performing, and was discovered by a Galway trad band.
   • This format is still the shop window for any new band to be discovered.
   • But Manchester's own Olympic sprint gold medallist today launched a campaign to discover a potential successor to his crown as Britain's top sprinter.
   • But although he has found the technology to come up with the tunes, he has struggled to discover vocalists to deliver the goods.
   • Of course, the true champion for many trees probably grows in obscurity like a wannabe actor waiting to be discovered.
   • We have discovered a conductor now, which is exciting in itself.
   • The Super League side held regional sessions at eight venues across the country on Sunday in a bid to discover a potential star.
   • In 1996, the manager of Capitol Records discovered the band and signed them to the label.
   • And in him, the small screen has discovered an entertainer with gravitas.
   • She left the band and was discovered by Gianni Versace who, recognising her talents, ‘adopted’ her as his sister.
   • At the same time, new actors discovered in Rome also perform on this cinquecento Venetian stage.
   • I have discovered a drummer that will knock your socks off.
   • Alan McGee discovered the band in Scotland and T was where they first showed their full potential.

2archaic Divulge (a secret)

1. 2.1 Disclose the identity of (someone)
   she at last discovered herself to me

   Example sentencesExamples

   • A little time afterwards she discovered herself to him.
   • This was also the favourite object of his charity after he had discovered himself to the world in Limousin.
   • The local citizens interested in various forms of athletic sports and quieter games of chess and checkers have discovered themselves to the editors.
   • So both of them discovered themselves to the garrison of the Philistines.
   • For seven days he remained in his voluntary prison; but his stock of water being expended, he discovered himself to the captain, who literally cut him out of the hold, and rather reluctantly gave him his liberty on arriving at Boston.
2. 2.2 Display (a quality or feeling)
   with what agility did these military men discover their skill in feats of war

   Example sentencesExamples

   • In this nostalgia for community some would discover utopian impulses, others would decry imaginary fulfilments as ideological.