Entry Word: discover

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to come to an awareness <I was startled to discover that my keys were missing>

Synonyms ascertain, catch on, find out, hear, learn, realize, see

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

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> — see find 1
3 to make known (as information previously kept secret) <discovered to his friend how people whom he had trusted had betrayed him> — see reveal 1