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
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
Predicting Auroras On Mars Until now, the only auroras on Mars have been detected at ultraviolet wavelengths by spacecraft orbiting the red planet.
—
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
But if a leader comes to power and starts eliminating all checks on the executive, one set of those checks will be the kinds of things that can detect and control corruption.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
At the time that ARCA detected KM3-230213A, only 21 of its detection lines were in operation.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 May 2025
The new technology works by detecting amyloid plaques in the brain, a telltale sign of Alzheimer’s.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detect
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Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
But if a leader comes to power and starts eliminating all checks on the executive, one set of those checks will be the kinds of things that can detect and control corruption.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
At the time that ARCA detected KM3-230213A, only 21 of its detection lines were in operation.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 May 2025
The new technology works by detecting amyloid plaques in the brain, a telltale sign of Alzheimer’s.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detect
Cite this Entry
“Detect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detect. Accessed 24 May. 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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