detect
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for detect, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To discover or notice something, often through careful observation or testing.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Antonyms
How to use detect
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
detect a signal
detect a change
hard to detect
Etymology
From Latin detegere, "to uncover" — from de- ("off") and tegere ("to cover").
Full origin of detect →Frequently asked questions
What does “detect” mean?
The word “detect” means to discover or notice something, often through careful observation or testing. In plain terms, to find or notice something that isn't obvious at first.
How do you pronounce “detect”?
“Detect” is pronounced dih-TEHKT (/dɪˈtɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “detect” in a sentence?
Here is “detect” used in a sentence: “The scanner can detect even trace amounts of the chemical.”
What part of speech is “detect”?
“Detect” is a verb.
Where does the word “detect” come from?
The word “detect” comes from Latin. From Latin detegere, "to uncover" — from de- ("off") and tegere ("to cover").
Is “detect” a common word?
“Detect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between detect and discover?
To detect something is to notice or discover it through careful observation or testing, and it usually implies the thing was hidden, faint, or easy to miss, such as a gas leak or a slight change in tone. Discover is broader and simply means to find something for the first time.
What is the difference between detect and notice?
Notice suggests ordinary, often casual perception, as when you notice a friend's new haircut. Detect implies deliberate attention, careful observation, or the use of tests and instruments to find something subtle or concealed, such as detecting a fault, a disease, or a hint of sarcasm.
What is the noun form of detect?
The noun is detection, meaning the act of discovering or noticing something, as in "early detection of disease." A person or device that detects something is a detector, as in smoke detector and metal detector.
