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
The public health ramifications of farmworkers shrinking from view are potentially massive: Infectious disease scientists say that preventing people from getting bird flu and detecting cases are critical to warding off a bird flu pandemic.
—
Amy Maxmen | Kff Health News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
For various examples and further detailed indications about the nature and use of prompting to detect and mitigate the flow of misinformation and disinformation, see my coverage at the link here.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
South Bow, a liquid pipelines business that has managed the pipeline since 2024, said control center leak detection systems detected a pressure drop in the system.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
There's also a blood-oxygen-level-tracking pulse oximeter – which can be used to detect sleep apnea, and to measure stress or energy expenditure – along with an optical skin temperature sensor for gauging body temperature or tracking ovulation.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detect
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Amy Maxmen | Kff Health News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025
For various examples and further detailed indications about the nature and use of prompting to detect and mitigate the flow of misinformation and disinformation, see my coverage at the link here.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
South Bow, a liquid pipelines business that has managed the pipeline since 2024, said control center leak detection systems detected a pressure drop in the system.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2025
There's also a blood-oxygen-level-tracking pulse oximeter – which can be used to detect sleep apnea, and to measure stress or energy expenditure – along with an optical skin temperature sensor for gauging body temperature or tracking ovulation.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 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 15 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share