discern

[dih-surn, -zurn]

verb (used with object)

1. to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend.

   They discerned a sail on the horizon.

   Synonyms: espy, descry, discover

2. to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate.

   He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.

   Synonyms: judge, differentiate

verb (used without object)

1. to distinguish or discriminate.

   Synonyms: judge, differentiate

discern

/ dɪˈsɜːn /

verb

1. (tr) to recognize or perceive clearly

2. to recognize or perceive (differences)

Other Word Forms

• discerner noun
• prediscern verb (used with object)
• undiscerned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of discern¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin discernere “to separate,” from dis- dis- ¹ + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”

Word History and Origins

Origin of discern¹

C14: from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere to divide, from _dis- ¹ (apart) + cernere to separate

Synonym Study

See notice.

Example Sentences

And here’s hoping we’ll read some discerning criticism on the subject as well.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to discern a unifying theme in the best film scores of 2025.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In England, notes Mr. Harpham, as early as the 1550s one might discern “a popular consensus” that “the people of the nation stood in some special relation to freedom.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Dowling is a discerning and sympathetic, if occasionally starchy, guide through Shepard’s oeuvre.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But if AI power users pick and choose what is worth automating, then we could all be a bit more discerning.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anticipate 
• ascertain 
• detect 
• determine 
• differentiate 
• discriminate 
• distinguish 
• divine 
• figure out 
• find out 
• foresee 
• perceive 

When To Use

What does discern mean?

Discern means to recognize small details, accurately tell the difference between similar things, and make intelligent judgements by using such observations.The ability to do this or the process of doing it is called discernment, as in Only through careful discernment can you tell a genuine artifact from the work of a counterfeiter. Things that can be identified or distinguished in such a way can be described as discernible. The adjective discerning can be used to describe someone who has the ability to discern or to describe such an ability, as in Most chefs have a very discerning palate. A close synonym is discriminating.The verb discriminate can be used to mean the same thing as discern (discriminate also commonly means to treat in a prejudicial way, which is not one of the senses of discern).Example: These two scents may smell identical to the average person, but an experienced perfumer can discern the difference between them.