discern

discern

verb

Definition of DISCERN

1

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes <barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist>

Synonyms behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witness

Related Words identify, make out, pick out, pick up; attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind; study, watch; examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey; glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)

Near Antonyms disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook

2

to understand or point out the difference in <too young to discern between right and wrong>

Synonyms difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, secern, separate

Related Words contradistinguish; comprehend, grasp, know, understand; divide, part, sever; demarcate, mark (off), set off

Near Antonyms confound, lump (together), mingle

Antonyms confuse, mistake, mix (up)

3

to have a clear idea of <we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark>

Synonyms appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand

Related Words absorb, digest, take in; realize; fathom, penetrate, pierce

Near Antonyms misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

Antonyms miss