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
Verb
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
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
That design allows researchers to position the ion with greater flexibility while making weak oscillating fields easier to detect.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 July 2026
Elevated levels of the bacteria, which indicate fecal pollution, were detected at the Willow Creek Day Use Area, Nimbus Flats and Black Miners Bar Day Use Beach, park rangers said in an alert Wednesday.
—
Madison Smalstig
july 3,
Sacbee.com,
3 July 2026
To keep it simple, the technology involves placing a sensor inside the ball itself that detects every touch, no matter how small.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
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show current usage.
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Verb
As for the hosts, mosquitoes track people (and their blood) down by detecting carbon dioxide, body heat, sweat and body odor.
—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
That design allows researchers to position the ion with greater flexibility while making weak oscillating fields easier to detect.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 July 2026
Elevated levels of the bacteria, which indicate fecal pollution, were detected at the Willow Creek Day Use Area, Nimbus Flats and Black Miners Bar Day Use Beach, park rangers said in an alert Wednesday.
—
Madison Smalstig
july 3,
Sacbee.com,
3 July 2026
To keep it simple, the technology involves placing a sensor inside the ball itself that detects every touch, no matter how small.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
3 July 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 5 Jul. 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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