Dictionary.com

discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]
/ dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr- /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: discerning / discerningly on Thesaurus.com

adjective
showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding: a discerning critic of French poetry.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of discerning

First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM discerning

dis·cern·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·cern·ing, adjectiveun·dis·cern·ing, adjectiveun·dis·cern·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use discerning in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discerning

discerning
/ (dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ) /

adjective
having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating

Derived forms of discerning

discerningly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK