as in discovery
the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time
my detection of the scent of baked apple pie led me to the kitchen
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Recent Examples of detection
Current robots rely heavily on cameras or light detection and ranging, known as lidar, or both.
—
Nitin Sanket, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
It's got some useful features, including smoke alarm detection to keep you and your family safe from potential threats, as well as two-way talk functionality to speak to people from your phone.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Experimentalists are rethinking their detection strategies.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
This was a signal accomplishment in 1938, when the science of crime detection was hardly comparable with today’s efficient methods.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detection
Nitin Sanket, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
It's got some useful features, including smoke alarm detection to keep you and your family safe from potential threats, as well as two-way talk functionality to speak to people from your phone.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Experimentalists are rethinking their detection strategies.
—Mariangela Lisanti, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
This was a signal accomplishment in 1938, when the science of crime detection was hardly comparable with today’s efficient methods.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detection
discovery
Noun
-
New York City has denied another request for data about the toxins that swirled above Ground Zero after 9/11 — claiming nothing could be found — despite the discovery of 68 boxes worth of information on the subject just four months ago, the Daily News has learned.—
Thomas Tracy,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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Officers discovered that Herrera had fled to El Salvador days prior to the discovery of Morfin-Rojas’ body.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detection. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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