discover

discover

verb

Definition of DISCOVER

1

to come to an awareness of <I was startled to discover that my keys were missing>

Synonyms ascertain, catch on (to), find out, get on (to), hear, learn, realize, see, wise (up)

Related Words hit (on or upon), tumble (to); descry, detect, encounter, espy, see, spot; calculate, dope (out), figure out, find, puzzle (out); discern, mind, note, observe, perceive; divine

Phrases get wind of

Near Antonyms miss, overlook; disregard, ignore; forget, unlearn; blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, mask, occult, screen, shroud, veil

2

to come upon after searching, study, or effort <we hope to discover the real reason for his odd behavior>

Synonyms ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, discover, dredge (up), ferret (out), find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up

Related Words espy, sight, spot; look for, search (for or out), seek

Near Antonyms lose, mislay, misplace, misset

Antonyms miss, overlook, pass over

3

to make known (as information previously kept secret) <discovered to his friend how people whom he had trusted had betrayed him>

Synonyms bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, let on (about), spill, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil

Related Words confide, share; debunk, show up; unclothe, undrape; advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound; betray, blab, give away, leak; inform, squeal, talk; communicate, impart, relate; acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own; disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth

Near Antonyms camouflage, disguise; gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash; becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

Antonyms cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil