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 faint and difficult-to-detect plumes were previously thought to originate from the vast global saltwater ocean lurking beneath the icy shell of Europa.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Directors should take part in continuing education seminars and webinars on their fiduciary duties as well as how to detect and avoid potential fraud and abuse.
—Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
West Nile Virus was first detected in California in 2003 and is now considered endemic in the Sacramento and Yolo counties.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
The new earbuds also have bone conduction sensors within their microphone array that detect the physical vibration of the user’s voice, enabling the system to capture and transmit voices more clearly, even at lower volumes and in moderately quieter settings.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
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Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Directors should take part in continuing education seminars and webinars on their fiduciary duties as well as how to detect and avoid potential fraud and abuse.
—Meily Perez, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
West Nile Virus was first detected in California in 2003 and is now considered endemic in the Sacramento and Yolo counties.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
The new earbuds also have bone conduction sensors within their microphone array that detect the physical vibration of the user’s voice, enabling the system to capture and transmit voices more clearly, even at lower volumes and in moderately quieter settings.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
Cite this Entry
“Detect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/detect. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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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