discern

1 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist Synonyms behold, catch, descry, see, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witnessRelated Words identify, make out, pick out, pick up; attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind; study, watch; examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey; glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)Near Antonyms disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook

2 to understand or point out the difference in too young to discern between right and wrong Synonyms difference, differentiate, distinguish, discriminate, secern, separateRelated Words contradistinguish; comprehend, grasp, know, understand; divide, part, sever; demarcate, mark (off), set offNear Antonyms confound, lump (together), mingleAntonyms confuse, mistake, mix (up)

3 to have a clear idea of we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark Synonyms appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, comprehend, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, perceive, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understandRelated Words absorb, digest, take in; realize; fathom, penetrate, pierceNear Antonyms misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstandAntonyms miss