detects; detected; detecting
: to discover or notice the presence of (something that is hidden or hard to see, hear, taste, etc.)
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.
He thought he detected [=sensed] a note of irony in her comments.
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“Detect.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/detect. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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