Discern

Quick meaning: Discern is a verb meaning (transitive) To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.

Meaning

(transitive) To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry.
2. (transitive) To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate or discriminate.
3. (intransitive) To perceive differences.

Example Sentences

He was too young to discern right from wrong.

Meanwhile the brig had altered her tack, and was moving slowly to the east. Three hours later and the keenest eye could not have discerned her top-sails above the horizon.

If they discern any evidences of wrong-going in any direction that I have indicated, they will acknowledge that I had reason in what I wrote. If they discern no such thing, they will consider me altogether mistaken.

General reading readiness is assessed by tests and is also estimated by teachers who are often skillful at discerning just when a pupil is ready to learn to read. The important thing to remember is that jumping the gun is usually self-defeating.

Word Forms

• discerns
• discerning
• discerned

Synonyms for discern

Depending on context, synonyms include behold, see, ken, spy, discriminate, distinguish.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include distinguish, recognize, perceive, discriminate, differentiate, understand.

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