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
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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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:
China has "technical reasons" to work with the US, she argues, because its developers would be able to see how their models are deployed outside China, and detect and undertsand vulnerabilities.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
After living in a world saturated with AI content, most of us are pretty confident that we can detect the signs of AI in emails, text messages, images and reports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Their bubble risk indicator is a price-based measure, designed to detect bubble-like asset dynamics with the model incorporating an asset’s returns, volatility, momentum and fragility into a single reading.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
Researchers place color reference charts around newly planted coral to record the pigmentation, a method used to monitor its health and detect early signs of heat stress.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Only in the corner where the combat had taken place could I detect any evidence of the young gentleman’s existence.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
They used magnetoencephalography, a method that detects the faint magnetic fields produced when brain cells are active.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
As the hulking antenna swivels into action, screens inside the control room light up with the names of objects the radar system detects: stars, satellites and abandoned rocket bodies.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
It also correctly detects an estimated 94% of generic, or AI-generated, posts, which it refrains from distributing beyond the author’s immediate network, according to a spokeswoman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
When the camera detects a violation, it generates an evidence package, consisting of the date, time and location, as well as still images.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Her nose is always slightly elevated, as if she detects a foul smell.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Even from outside the front door, medics detected the strong and distinct smell of a decomposing human body.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
The K2-18b claim relied on possible atmospheric signatures detected from across interstellar distances, whereas the Martian case concerned a rock that could be studied directly and in much greater detail.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
Eight airports had halted operations over the weekend after ash was detected in their airspace, disrupting thousands of flights and leaving more than 270,000 passengers stranded, the transport ministry reported Monday.
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
Airports routinely shut down for hours at a time when drones are detected nearby, forcing flight delays and cancellations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
As she studied that part of the horizon, she detected other lights winking as they were hidden or eclipsed by trees.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
The company pulled the car over after detecting a “violation of our terms of service involving a firearm,” the spokesperson said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
Food and Drug Administration didn’t give clearance to its EchoSolv HF tool for detecting heart failure, says Petra Capital.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
M. trumani and every felid lineage sampled in the study lacked a functional gene responsible for producing a receptor involved in detecting sour tastes.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 8, 2026
These systems can be programmed to carry out tasks such as detecting a particular molecule and then producing a specific response.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026
“Yessum. This morning,” he said, detecting hesitancy and confusion in her voice.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
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.
