detected; detecting; detects
1
: to discover the true character of
detecting drug smugglers
2
: to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
detect alcohol in the blood
Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?
3
: to work as a detective
Synonyms
Examples of detect in a Sentence
The test is used to detect the presence of alcohol in the blood.
This type of cancer is difficult to detect in its early stages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Conversely, where organic compounds were reliably detected, there were no signs of deep or surface activity.
—
Victoria Corless, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2025
It was detected about 12 miles east-northeast from the town of Falls City, which is roughly a 45-mile drive southeast from San Antonio.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
As of Wednesday, no person-to person spread of bird flu had been detected in California, the state agency said.
—Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 29 Jan. 2025
Guffey also is working with Cyber Dive, a company that has created a children’s smartphone with a nudity detection feature that shuts down the phone’s camera if male or female genitalia is detected.
—Faith Karimi, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for detect 
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Victoria Corless, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2025
It was detected about 12 miles east-northeast from the town of Falls City, which is roughly a 45-mile drive southeast from San Antonio.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
As of Wednesday, no person-to person spread of bird flu had been detected in California, the state agency said.
—Kendrick Marshall, Sacramento Bee, 29 Jan. 2025
Guffey also is working with Cyber Dive, a company that has created a children’s smartphone with a nudity detection feature that shuts down the phone’s camera if male or female genitalia is detected.
—Faith Karimi, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for detect
Dictionary Entries Near detect
Cite this Entry
“Detect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detect. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
detect
verb
de·tect
di-ˈtekt 
: to discover the nature, existence, presence, or fact of
detect the approach of an airplane
detection
noun
-ˈtek-shən
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