Synonyms of spotting

spotting 1 of 2

noun

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

• discovery
• finding
• detection
• exploration
• awareness
• unearthing
• disclosure
• revelation
• invention
• exposure
• creation
• notice
• uncovering
• espial
• unveiling
• rediscovery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loss
• disappearance
• hiding
• concealment

spotting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of spot

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

• sprinkling
• dotting
• staining
• peppering
• dyeing
• flecking
• blotching
• dappling
• mottling
• shooting
• stippling
• speckling
• specking
• splotching
• freckling
• striping
• marbling
• streaking
• blotting
• interspersing
• barring
• banding
• spattering
• studding
• setting
• bespattering

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

• noticing
• seeing
• eyeing
• regarding
• viewing
• sighting
• observing
• watching
• remarking
• catching
• spying
• noting
• looking (at)
• distinguishing
• witnessing
• perceiving
• discerning
• beholding
• identifying
• espying
• descrying
• scanning
• getting a load of
• considering
• marking
• setting eyes on
• laying eyes on
• studying
• surveying
• inspecting
• examining
• picking out
• scrutinizing
• attending (to)
• heeding
• making out
• glimpsing
• glancing (at)
• peering (at)
• picking up
• minding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• disregarding
• neglecting
• missing
• passing over
• overlooking
• overpassing

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

• spraying
• sprinkling
• dotting
• peppering
• scattering
• strewing
• dusting
• sowing
• bestrewing
• drizzling
• dappling
• speckling
• flecking
• studding
• blanketing
• stippling
• spattering
• bespattering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spotting

Noun

Set along the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the city features a walkable historic downtown, scenic Harborwalk, quaint cafés and restaurants, and easy access to kayaking, boating, fishing, and wildlife spotting. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026

Overhead irrigation is discouraged to prevent leaf disease and spotting. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 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

Verb

These folks had theirs ruined by the next shift of roaches, the five who died and the nine spotting living their lives. — David J. Neal july 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026

While some abilities, like spotting vulnerabilities in software, are useful to attackers and defenders, designing exploits for those vulnerabilities uniquely empowers attackers. — Harry Booth, Time, 24 July 2026

The repetition of spotting weak arguments in a memo, interpreting ambiguous data, and anticipating stakeholder’s concerns, built judgment. — Marlo Lyons, Harvard Business Review, 24 July 2026

Look for Manufacturer’s Stamps One of Michelle’s best tips for spotting authentic antiques and vintage pieces at flea markets is to look for stamps on the bottoms of items, especially a date stamp. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2026

More than a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live in the jungles of the adjoining 178-acre park, improving your chances of spotting them sooner. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026

Psyche's twin multispectral cameras also passed their calibration tests, capturing the frames for the time-lapse while spotting Mars' tiny moons, Phobos and Deimos, from a distance, the NASA statement read. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 22 July 2026

Often if calcium levels in the soil are too low, plants would also be exhibiting signs of deficiency including stunted growth, curling of leaves and perhaps spotting or scorching on leaves. — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

Including your horse starting to move forward just before the gate opens, then hitting the side of the stall and spotting the field several lengths. — Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026