detect
Americanverb (used with object)
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detects,
present (3rd person singular)
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detected,
past participle, past
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detecting
present participle
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to discover or catch (a person) in the performance of some act.
to detect someone cheating.
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to discover the existence of.
to detect the odor of gas.
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to find out the true character or activity of.
to detect a spy.
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Telecommunications.
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to rectify alternating signal currents in a radio receiver.
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to demodulate.
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verb
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to perceive or notice
to detect a note of sarcasm
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to discover the existence or presence of (esp something likely to elude observation)
to detect alcohol in the blood
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to extract information from (an electromagnetic wave)
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obsolete to reveal or expose (a crime, criminal, etc)
Usage
What are other ways to say detect?
To detect is to discover something hidden or unknown. When should you use detect over learn, discover, or ascertain? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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detectabilitynoun
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detecternoun
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detectibilitynoun
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predetectverb (used with object)
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detectableadjective
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detectibleadjective
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undetectableadjective
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undetectedadjective
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undetectibleadjective
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undetectablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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detectsimple
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detectssimple
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have detectedperfect
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has detectedperfect
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am detectingprogressive
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are detectingprogressive
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is detectingprogressive
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have been detectingperfect progressive
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has been detectingperfect progressive
Past
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detectedsimple
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had detectedperfect
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was detectingprogressive
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were detectingprogressive
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had been detectingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of detect
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin dētēctus “discovered,” past participle of dētegere “to uncover, discover,” from dē- de- + tegere “to cover”; see also thatch
Explanation
The verb detect means to discover or observe the existence of something. If you walk into your house and detect the odor of burnt food, you can deduce from the evidence that you will be going out to dinner tonight! The verb detect comes from the Latin word detegere, which literally means "to uncover" — or more figuratively, to discover. You may detect the presence of a new dog in your house if you note a water bowl, chew toys, and grooming tools. Of course, the large woofing beast that greeted you at the door with a wagging tail might be a big clue as well.
Vocabulary lists containing detect
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List 9
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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:
“If that is what happened here, the critical question is why authentication safeguards, access restrictions, and monitoring systems failed to detect and stop the unauthorized activity.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Millions of voters have also been flagged for additional scrutiny after the ECI used automated systems to detect what they described as "logical discrepancies", including mismatched names and inconsistencies in family details.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
These instruments detect microwave energy naturally emitted by Earth's surface, allowing researchers to distinguish frozen seawater from the surrounding open ocean.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Much of the outrage in Ukraine this week has been over restrictions to the Starshield satellite communications system that its military relies upon to detect incoming Russian attacks and to coordinate its frontline response.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
He entered private meetings with the lenders and the bankers and the rating agencies probing for an intelligence he had yet to detect.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
A hotspot is a location where a satellite detects an unusually high temperature, indicating a potential fire or other strong heat source.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Belgian physicist Prof Francis Halzen has won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering work on an observatory that detects particles from space, shedding light on the distant universe.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
RBC also detects that during major drawdowns, confidence and sentiment gauges move sharply with readings like the National Federation of Independent Business and the American Association of Individual Investors dropping sharply.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
If it detects users who say they are adults but are really between the ages of 13 and 17, these restrictions will be implemented automatically.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
She speaks of it lightly, but he detects a bitterness in her voice.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Although the disease has not been detected in the United Kingdom, climate change could eventually create conditions that allow it to threaten cereal production in northern Europe.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Russian drones were detected overnight not far from the scene - near Ukraine's Snake Island.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
She then considered a frightening explanation when her mother detected a funny taste to the water she kept in a bottle at her desk at Berkeley Engineering and Research.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
He said the nodule was detected at “a very early stage” and that his doctors had recommended surgery to remove it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Once a sugar-sensing protein had detected sugar in the environment, it would recognize one such tag and turn the target genes on or off.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
This could reduce unnecessary follow-up observations while increasing the chances of detecting rare jet-launching episodes at crucial moments.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Such tools could be valuable for evaluating drug safety and detecting biological markers associated with disease.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
"The two-month delay in detecting and reporting the incident to the city is unacceptable."
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
"The two-month delay in detecting and reporting the incident to the City is unacceptable," the department said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
So maybe the Whisperer could only seek out certain things and was incapable of detecting anything else.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
