detect

verb

de·​tect di-ˈtekt 

dē-

detected; detecting; detects

transitive verb

1

: to discover the true character of

detecting drug smugglers

2

: to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

detect alcohol in the blood

Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?

3

: demodulate

intransitive verb

: to work as a detective

detectability

di-ˌtek-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

dē-

noun

detectable

di-ˈtek-tə-bəl 

dē-

adjective

Synonyms of detect

• find
• learn
• locate
• discover
• get

Examples of detect in a Sentence

The test is used to detect the presence of alcohol in the blood.

This type of cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages.

Recent Examples on the Web

The key insight of the study is that gravitational waves don’t need to physically push atoms to be detected. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026

Install strong antivirus software on your devices to help detect malware, phishing links and credential-stealing threats that could target you after a breach. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026

The warrant says a toxicology screening detected oxycodone in the fetus' blood, but police were told the test would not be able to detect misoprostol. —CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026

Regulators are concerned the system fails to adequately detect and warn drivers about degraded visibility from glare, fog, or dust. —Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin detectus, past participle of detegere to uncover, detect, from de- + tegere to cover — more at thatch

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for detect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• direct
• dissect
• effect
• eject

Kids Definition

detect

verb

de·​tect di-ˈtekt 

: to discover the nature, existence, presence, or fact of

detect the approach of an airplane

detectable

-ˈtek-tə-bəl 

adjective

detection

-ˈtek-shən

noun