discover
Americanverb (used with object)
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discovers,
present (3rd person singular)
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discovered,
past participle, past
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discovering
present participle
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to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of (something previously unseen or unknown).
to discover America;
to discover electricity.
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to notice or realize.
I discovered I didn't have my credit card with me when I went to pay my bill.
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Archaic. to make known; reveal; disclose.
verb
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to be the first to find or find out about
Fleming discovered penicillin
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to learn about or encounter for the first time; realize
she discovered the pleasures of wine
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to find after study or search
I discovered a leak in the tank
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to reveal or make known
Usage
What are other ways to say discover? To discover something is to see, get knowledge of, or find it. How does discover differ from learn, ascertain, and detect? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Synonym Usage
Discover, invent, originate suggest bringing to light something previously unknown. To discover may be to find something that had previously existed but had hitherto been unknown: to discover a new electricity; it may also refer to devising a new use for something already known: to discover how to make synthetic rubber. To invent is to make or create something new, especially something ingeniously devised to perform mechanical operations: to invent a device for detecting radioactivity. To originate is to begin something new, especially new ideas, methods, etc.: to originate a political movement, the use of assembly-line techniques.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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discoverernoun
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prediscoververb (used with object)
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rediscoververb (used with object)
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discoverableadjective
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nondiscoverableadjective
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undiscoverableadjective
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undiscoveredadjective
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discoverablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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discoversimple
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discoverssimple
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have discoveredperfect
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has discoveredperfect
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am discoveringprogressive
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are discoveringprogressive
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is discoveringprogressive
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have been discoveringperfect progressive
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has been discoveringperfect progressive
Past
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discoveredsimple
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had discoveredperfect
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was discoveringprogressive
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were discoveringprogressive
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had been discoveringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of discover
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English discouere(n), descuvere(n), from Anglo-French discoverir, descovrir, from Old French descovrir, descuvrir, from Late Latin discooperīre “to disclose, expose”; see origin at dis- 1, cover
Explanation
If you discover something, you find it unexpectedly, like when you discover your favorite childhood stuffed animal in a box of old junk. When you discover something, it can be by surprise or the result of a search. You might discover the fact that your dad used to travel with the circus as a trapeze artist or discover a band none of your friends ever heard of. Scientists often discover new substances, stars, or organisms. The Latin root discooperire, "uncover," combines the prefix dis-, or "opposite of," with cooperire, "to cover up."
Vocabulary lists containing discover
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Beowulf vocabulary
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"Return to Titanic" and "Talking with Robert Ballard"
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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:
Sometimes you only discover what you want as you go.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026
Within a few years, Edwin Hubble would discover that the universe is expanding.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
That’s what happens when college recruiters discover someone with size, good footwork and the ability to improve.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
This would continue to provide companies strong financial incentives to discover new, innovative therapies, while also ensuring that pricing is tied to objectively measurable value.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
She wanted Jess to discover life outside Cedar.
From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis
When she discovers the Spanish-speaking world of salsa, she is as drawn to its language as she is to its physicality—the urgent syncopation that makes the music undivorceable from the call to dance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
In addition to “Hexed,” a magical coming-of-age adventure about a young girl named Billie who discovers she’s a witch that will hit theaters Nov. 25, Disney Animation announced “Clay” for 2028.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
"It's the product of years of work by a dedicated, international team of astronomers. We're excited to share DR20 with the world and see what the community discovers with it."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
But there is more afoot than a medical breakthrough, as Julia discovers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
This is how he discovers that things are indeed more involved than they at first appeared.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
About 10 years ago, university researchers discovered that the wastewater from shuttered mines contained rare earths.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
This specimen is also the oldest example discovered so far.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
Letting go is a decision, but it’s often a daily practice too, as you have no doubt discovered.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
Advice for a shocking family discovery: What would you do if you discovered you have secret siblings?
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
When I peeked in a dressmaker’s shop today, I believe I discovered their secret!
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
"Animals have probably been feeding on nature's original bioplastic for hundreds of millions of years - we're only discovering it now."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
Some bars, Infante noted, are already experimenting with lower-priced cocktails and expanded happy hours after discovering there may simply be a ceiling to what customers will pay for a drink.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Once they decided to vacation in Atlantic Canada, Kent Truscott and his wife embraced the idea of discovering their own country.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
“I have fans that are 90 years old and then these new fans that are just discovering it, and they’re like, ‘She’s the host.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
A pleasant surprise was discovering that our clothing appealed to non-Muslim women as well.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
