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
However, if an inverter fails to detect the correct frequency or if the frequency is disrupted, the energy transmission is disconnected.
—
Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
By that point, Swezey was unable to detect either a pulse or breathing.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 29 July 2025
The tasks are then analyzed to detect whether the user shows signs of Parkinson’s disease.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 29 July 2025
White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for detect
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Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
By that point, Swezey was unable to detect either a pulse or breathing.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 29 July 2025
The tasks are then analyzed to detect whether the user shows signs of Parkinson’s disease.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 29 July 2025
White, pale blue, gray, and green swimsuits can be some of the hardest swimsuits to spot in a pool, while darker colors, like navy and black, can be difficult to detect in open water.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 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 2 Aug. 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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