discern

verb dis·cern \ di-ˈsərn , -ˈzərn \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of discern

transitive verb

1 a : to detect with the eyes

discerned a figure approaching through the fog

b : to detect with senses other than vision

discerned a strange odor

2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : discriminate

discern right from wrong

3 : to come to know or recognize mentally

unable to discern his motives

intransitive verb

: to see or understand the difference

—

discerner

noun

—

discernible

or less commonly discernable play \-ˈsər-nə-bəl, -ˈzər-\ adjective

—

discernibly

play \-blē\ adverb

See discern defined for English-language learners

See discern defined for kids

Examples of discern in a Sentence

A careful analysis of the "Nutrition Facts" panels might provide some guidance, but you would have to do a lot of math before you could discern the best choice. —David L. Katz, O, The Oprah Magazine, August 2008
The ability to discern value at a glimpse, to sift the useful out of the rejected with as little expenditure of energy as possible, is the great talent of the scavenger. —Matthew Power, Harper's, December 2006
Astronomers are delighted to have found 19 galaxies that appear to be bent out of shape. The distorted images are cosmic mirages, arcs or rings of light created when the gravity of a massive foreground object bends and magnifies the light from a galaxy lying behind it. Albert Einstein predicted the effect … in 1936, but telescopes at the time weren't powerful enough to discern it. —R. Cowen, Science News, 21 Jan. 2006
Despite the layers of ironic hesitation, the reader soon discerns that the emotions informing the book are raw and, more importantly, authentic. —Publishers Weekly, 13 Dec. 1999
The reasons behind this sudden change are difficult to discern.
barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist

Recent Examples of discern from the Web

And Philadelphia’s discards, rescued by Hagins’ discerning hand, have a surprising afterlife.

— samantha melamed, Philly.com, "How Philly's discarded shoes are saving lives in Haiti and Africa," 10 Apr. 2018
Examining one Cretaceous period clutch in 2010, Jeffrey Wilson of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor discerned what appeared to be snake bones.

— sanjay kumar, Science | AAAS, "India’s paleontologists fight destruction of its fossil riches," 4 Apr. 2018
Having a couple folks nearby who can discern the center’s emotions might help.

— carter karels, San Antonio Express-News, "Wagner’s heritage, Sister Jean’s presser highlight day as Final Four decends on San Antonio," 30 Mar. 2018
Nor could anyone discern how to force the U.S. to build more expensive aircraft or construction equipment, create fewer good movies or pharmaceuticals, and provide less-attractive financial and insurance services.

— karl rove, WSJ, "The Illuminati Embrace Protectionism," 28 Mar. 2018
Even tests by America’s Test Kitchen found that many tasters couldn’t discern a difference in cookies baked with real and fake vanilla.

— kim ode, charlotteobserver, "Vanilla is complex, even smoky, and may be a baker’s best friend | Charlotte Observer," 27 Mar. 2018
Reporters cannot easily discern what voters are seeing, and hoaxes and forgeries spread instantaneously.

— Washington Post, "Digital ads, social media hide political campaign messaging," 11 Mar. 2018
Reporters cannot easily discern what voters are seeing, and hoaxes and forgeries spread instantaneously.

— nicholas riccardi, BostonGlobe.com, "Digital ads, social media hide political campaign messaging," 11 Mar. 2018
With one phone call—or even a cursory glance at a media guide—Newton could easily have discerned the identity of the scout and ascertained for himself whether Richardson had, in fact, used racial epithets.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "The Striking Contrast Between the Mavs and Panthers In Crisis," 23 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discern.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of discern

Middle English, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift — more at dis-, certain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year