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
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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
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Recent Examples of spotting
Tom Vanderbilt, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
This latest spotting, however, took place in Punta Mita, a peninsula on the Mexican Pacific coast.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
The first spotting of golden mussels was in October 2024.
—Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Head out onto the 1,500-foot pier for some fishing or wildlife spotting, or walk across the street to Pier Park for lunch or a little shopping to get out of the sun.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Avoid getting water on African violet leaves, which can cause leaf spotting and encourage mildew.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
Dry Your Shower and Close the Curtain Get rid of waterdrops on shower walls and doors to prevent mildew growth and water-spotting in about 30 seconds with a squeegee.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
This spotting confirms to conservationists that the elusive species is breeding successfully in southern Thailand.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
From caves and lakeside swims to wildlife spotting and more, this spot where Missouri meets Arkansas is the perfect place to spend your next break with kids.
—Kaity Velez, Parents, 23 Dec. 2025
James Folta, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Police then lost sight of the vehicle before spotting it being driven west on Campbell Avenue, where the driver abruptly stopped in front of a bar, according to Allard.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Police thwarted the plot while patrolling the area after spotting two suspicious individuals.
—Chase Jordan
march 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Drones take on expanding roles across modern battlefields Uncrewed systems are playing a growing role in modern warfare, handling missions from reconnaissance and artillery spotting to precision strikes.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Even kids who haven’t seen the show will be captivated walking the City Walls and spotting Fort Lovrijenac.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026
As one sales agent noted to IndieWire’s Brian Welk last fall, the upside for these companies lies in spotting opportunities before others do.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
The good news is that spotting the red flags early can prevent a much bigger problem later.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
But the Singita Grumeti team, most drawn from the surrounding communities, are well drilled in spotting, and responding to, wildlife.
—Tom Vanderbilt, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Mar. 2026
This latest spotting, however, took place in Punta Mita, a peninsula on the Mexican Pacific coast.
—Meg Walters, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026
The first spotting of golden mussels was in October 2024.
—Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Head out onto the 1,500-foot pier for some fishing or wildlife spotting, or walk across the street to Pier Park for lunch or a little shopping to get out of the sun.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Avoid getting water on African violet leaves, which can cause leaf spotting and encourage mildew.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
Dry Your Shower and Close the Curtain Get rid of waterdrops on shower walls and doors to prevent mildew growth and water-spotting in about 30 seconds with a squeegee.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Jan. 2026
This spotting confirms to conservationists that the elusive species is breeding successfully in southern Thailand.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
From caves and lakeside swims to wildlife spotting and more, this spot where Missouri meets Arkansas is the perfect place to spend your next break with kids.
—Kaity Velez, Parents, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
The way out of this bind is going to require all of us to get better at spotting the output of AI, and to continue shaming those who get caught red keyboarded.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Police then lost sight of the vehicle before spotting it being driven west on Campbell Avenue, where the driver abruptly stopped in front of a bar, according to Allard.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Police thwarted the plot while patrolling the area after spotting two suspicious individuals.
—Chase Jordan
march 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Drones take on expanding roles across modern battlefields Uncrewed systems are playing a growing role in modern warfare, handling missions from reconnaissance and artillery spotting to precision strikes.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026
Even kids who haven’t seen the show will be captivated walking the City Walls and spotting Fort Lovrijenac.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2026
As one sales agent noted to IndieWire’s Brian Welk last fall, the upside for these companies lies in spotting opportunities before others do.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
The good news is that spotting the red flags early can prevent a much bigger problem later.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spotting
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
-
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
Verb
-
Neutralize Trash Can Odors Cut odors from the kitchen trash by periodically sprinkling baking soda in as waste accumulates.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
For instance, sprinkling cinnamon around entry points while also using a vinegar spray can help create a double barrier against ants attempting to infiltrate your home.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Writers Raoul Groothuizen and Christina Poppe came up with the idea back in 2018, after noticing a sharp rise in racist rhetoric among the Flemish far-right.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Scientists had long assumed most of the moon lay beyond the protection of Earth’s magnetic field, but in 2019 scientists began noticing something odd about the experiment’s data that suggested the moon was somewhat protected from galactic cosmic rays.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Stults recommends vacuuming first, wiping with a paper towel, then spraying and wiping with a cleaner.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Both experts suggest tackling odors with white vinegar, too, either while cleaning or spraying it in the air.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Law firm Ancel Glink, which represents Harvey and was the recipient of the letter, said in a statement the city is disputing the finding on the basis the determination was based on taxes levied, rather than taxes collected.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
And while the research focused on individuals with prediabetes, the findings offer valuable insights for anyone aiming to support their cardiovascular health.—
Lauren Manaker,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The mention of Good and Pretti in the lyrics triggered a roar from the crowd, already dotting the arena with phones lights.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Depending on how late winter goes, the Meriden Daffodil Festival on May 2 and 3 may not be bursting with fresh daffodils dotting the historic Hubbard Park.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Whizzing by the moon up to 6,000 miles above the surface, the astronauts will also glimpse the celestial body's full disk, seeing sights that not even the Apollo astronauts witnessed.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Being embedded meant slowing down, listening, and understanding the genealogy of the triennial itself—seeing HT25 not as a rupture, but as part of an ongoing continuum.—
Wassan Al-Khudhairi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These events are extremely rare, requiring massive datasets and highly refined detection techniques.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Weiner also touted the NYPD’s network of cameras and sensors, which are monitored by members of the NYPD’s intelligence division, and international liaison officers posted in the Middle East as elements providing the department with early-warning detection capabilities.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spotting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spotting. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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