discover Hear it!

discover definition

dis·cover (di skuv′ər)

transitive verb

  1. to be the first to find out, see, or know about
  2. to find out; learn of the existence of; realize
  3. to be the first nonnative person to find, come to, or see (a continent, river, etc.)
  4. to bring to prominence; make famous
    1. Now Rare to reveal; disclose; expose
    2. Archaic to uncover

Etymology: ME discoveren < OFr descovrir < LL discooperire, to discover, reveal: see dis- & cover

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

discover Synonyms

discover

v.

find, find out, invent, learn, ascertain, detect, discern, descry, recognize, distinguish, determine, observe, contrive, explore, find out once and for all, hear of, hear about, open one's eyes, awake to, gain knowledge of, become aware of, become conscious of, bring to light, uncover, ferret out, root out, trace, elicit, unearth, look up, come on, happen on, run across, come across, light on, hit upon, stumble upon, strike upon, strike, fall upon, meet with, encounter, think of, come up with, perceive, glimpse, identify, devise, disinter, catch, spot, locate, notice, realize, create, make out, evolve, sense, feel, sight, smell, hear, see, spy, bring out, find a clue, catch a glimpse of, get wise to*, dig out*, dig up*, turn up*, sniff out*, nose out*, get wind of*, get one's hands on*, put one's hands on*, lay one's hands on*, put one's finger on*, run down*, track down*, smoke out*; see also find 1, invent 1, learn 2.

Antonyms miss*, pass by*, overlook. See syn. study at learn.learn.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

discover Usage Examples

Object

  • truth: Other countries have discovered these truths the hard way.

Subject

  • accident: Discovered by accident in the late 1920s, the Pcs have many industrial uses.

Adjective complement

  • more: Over the next few days, we discover more of the beauties of the island.

Modifying Another Word

  • newly: We then investigated these newly discovered areas in the field.

Used with why or when

  • who: Barnaby sets out to discover who has perpetrated the crime.

Preposition: in

  • 1950s: Nearby, a Roman kiln was discovered in the 1950s and an archeological survey was carried out with local schools in 2002.

Preposition: by

  • accident: Discovered by accident in the late 1920s, the Pcs have many industrial uses.
discover usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

discover quotes

   I would that with sleepy, soft embraces The sea would fold meöwould find me rest In luminous shades of her secret places, In depths where her marvels are manifest; So the earth beneath her should not discover My hidden couchönor the heaven above herö As a strong love shielding a weary lover, I would have her shield me with shining breast.

-Gordon, Adam Lindsay

We listen to others to discover what we ourselves believe.

-Grant, George P

It is a fraud of the Christian system to call the sciences human invention; it is only theapplication of themthat is human. Every science has for its basis a system of principles as fixed and unalterable asthose by whichthe universe is regulated and governed. Man cannot make principles, he can only discover them.

-Paine,Thomas

discover quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"discover." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/discover>

APA Style

discover. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/discover

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