detected; detecting; detects
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
: to work as a detective
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 team used new type of AI algorithm, which can help radars better detect low-altitude drones.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Republicans, who control half of the Minnesota House, pointed out that DHS failed to detect fraud for years.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026
In the far future, our Universe will become something that’s virtually unrecognizable to us today, as our bright, star-and-galaxy-rich cosmos will transform into a sparse, dark landscape from which precious few signals could ever be detected.
—Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected the lava glowing inside the Halemaumau crater at the volcano's summit caldera through webcam images, indicating Kilauea had begun erupting.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
Republicans, who control half of the Minnesota House, pointed out that DHS failed to detect fraud for years.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026
In the far future, our Universe will become something that’s virtually unrecognizable to us today, as our bright, star-and-galaxy-rich cosmos will transform into a sparse, dark landscape from which precious few signals could ever be detected.
—Big Think, 13 Mar. 2026
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected the lava glowing inside the Halemaumau crater at the volcano's summit caldera through webcam images, indicating Kilauea had begun erupting.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
Cite this Entry
“Detect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detect. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detect
verb
de·tect
di-ˈtekt 
: to discover the nature, existence, presence, or fact of
detect the approach of an airplane
detection
noun
-ˈtek-shən
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