as in discovery
the act or process of sighting or learning the existence of something for the first time
the spotting of a new bird is always a thrill for an avid bird-watcher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sprinkling
to mark with small spots especially unevenly
to give the effect of sunlight on water, the artist spotted the lake in his painting with flecks of gold paint
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
I spotted both of them as they tried to sneak out the back door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in spraying
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on
the TV networks had spotted reporters all over the state for the election
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of spotting
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
28 June 2026
Here's a guide to the best beaches for surfing, swimming, and penguin-spotting.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
Millions of drones are now being produced annually by both Ukraine and Russia, transforming reconnaissance, logistics, artillery spotting, and strike missions.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
The Row founders coordinated with their purses, sunglasses, phones and dark outfits in a 2026 spotting.
—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
While drones have long played an integral role in Russian operations, they have traditionally been used for artillery spotting and precision-strike missions.
—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
There's also horseback riding, turtle spotting, and birdwatching for anyone in the group who'd rather skip the history lesson.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
The restaurant was considered an upscale place for special occasions such as first dates, engagements and wedding receptions and was popular for celebrity spotting.
—
Ashley MacKin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Expect brisk mornings and evenings with pleasantly warm, often sunny afternoons that set the stage for activities like rafting, hiking, or wildlife spotting.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
Eric Niiler,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2026
Tuxedo cats have a black and white patterned coat, which is caused by a piebald or white-spotting gene.
—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
5 July 2026
Around Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada, several businesses reported spotting more visitors driving in from cities along the West Coast.
—
Mae Anderson,
Fortune,
5 July 2026
The tool, developed by independent AI engineer Luke Geel, analyzes past results and players’ activity—from posture to blink rate—spotting connections that might be imperceptible to the average viewer but visible to top pros.
—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
3 July 2026
The new core skill is critiquing things, spotting the confident error, knowing when a plausible answer is the wrong one.
—
Elton Chan,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
How to Catch Hearing Loss Early A baseline hearing test in your 50s, even without symptoms, gives you a benchmark for spotting decline before that nine year treatment delay sets in.
—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
On Wednesday, officers arrested the suspect after spotting him in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, according to the police statement.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Prime Day 2026 is in full swing (running through Friday, June 26, this year), and our team has been spotting some spectacular deals — particularly in the beauty department.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
Noun
The spotting is caused by minerals in water, soap residue, and body soil combining to create soap scum.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
28 June 2026
Here's a guide to the best beaches for surfing, swimming, and penguin-spotting.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
Millions of drones are now being produced annually by both Ukraine and Russia, transforming reconnaissance, logistics, artillery spotting, and strike missions.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 June 2026
The Row founders coordinated with their purses, sunglasses, phones and dark outfits in a 2026 spotting.
—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
While drones have long played an integral role in Russian operations, they have traditionally been used for artillery spotting and precision-strike missions.
—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
There's also horseback riding, turtle spotting, and birdwatching for anyone in the group who'd rather skip the history lesson.
—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
The restaurant was considered an upscale place for special occasions such as first dates, engagements and wedding receptions and was popular for celebrity spotting.
—
Ashley MacKin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
Expect brisk mornings and evenings with pleasantly warm, often sunny afternoons that set the stage for activities like rafting, hiking, or wildlife spotting.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
3 June 2026
Verb
FireSat will help incident commanders get better information more quickly, and, unlike fire-spotting aircraft, the satellites can linger over a fire for days or weeks and aren’t hampered by high winds or smoke.
—
Eric Niiler,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2026
Tuxedo cats have a black and white patterned coat, which is caused by a piebald or white-spotting gene.
—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
5 July 2026
Around Lake Tahoe, which straddles California and Nevada, several businesses reported spotting more visitors driving in from cities along the West Coast.
—
Mae Anderson,
Fortune,
5 July 2026
The tool, developed by independent AI engineer Luke Geel, analyzes past results and players’ activity—from posture to blink rate—spotting connections that might be imperceptible to the average viewer but visible to top pros.
—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
3 July 2026
The new core skill is critiquing things, spotting the confident error, knowing when a plausible answer is the wrong one.
—
Elton Chan,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
How to Catch Hearing Loss Early A baseline hearing test in your 50s, even without symptoms, gives you a benchmark for spotting decline before that nine year treatment delay sets in.
—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
On Wednesday, officers arrested the suspect after spotting him in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, according to the police statement.
—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Prime Day 2026 is in full swing (running through Friday, June 26, this year), and our team has been spotting some spectacular deals — particularly in the beauty department.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotting
Noun
-
The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said that the first discovery reveals details of daily life, urban development and economic activities in the Dakhla Oasis in the fourth century, when Egypt was part of the Byzantine empire.
-
That improv continued into the 23-day shoot of the one-location film, which was shot chronologically to allow further character discovery throughout production, while providing the safety of moving linearly through the story.
Verb
-
For rust or grease stains, try sprinkling baking soda directly on the spot, then scrubbing with a vinegar and water solution.
-
During Tuesday’s practice, which was the first of three on-field sessions this week, the Dolphins opened up the play-action game during the first 11-on-11 period by sprinkling in some running plays.
Verb
-
That matters because adults wait an average of nine years after first noticing hearing loss before treating it.
-
Research has increasingly pointed to app designs built for engagement and addiction rather than actual matchmaking, and users are noticing.
Verb
-
People try to cool down by standing in front of a mister spraying cool water during a heat wave in Rome near the Colosseum on June 26, 2026.
-
Sprinklers started spraying on the field just before the game got underway again and some players deliberately dosed themselves, a solid strategy considering the conditions.
Noun
-
Penn said the department will conduct both a criminal investigation and an internal administrative review and vowed to hold officers accountable based on the findings.
-
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors rejected those findings.
Verb
-
With mannequins dotting the courtyard, the Italian brand made a statement.
-
To achieve crisp dots and clean linework at home, Slynko recommends using a dotting tool and a thin detail brush, or reaching for a stamping plate.
Verb
-
True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.
-
Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.
Noun
-
The department will also deploy counterterrorism resources, explosive detection K-9s, bomb squad personnel and heavy weapons teams, along with plain clothes officers and a harbor unit for the waterways.
-
The company said this approach extends detection range and improves tracking persistence in demanding operating conditions.
Cite this Entry
“Spotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotting. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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