detect
gb/dɪtˈɛkt/ us/dɪtˈɛkt/
B1
English
~ 2600
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Notice or find something
To find out that something exists, especially something you cannot see easily.
Usage pattern:
to detect [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'detect' with 'look for'. 'Detect' means you actually find or notice something, not just search for it.
Synonyms
discover (More general; can refer to finding anything new or unknown, not necessarily hidden.)
|
identify (Focuses on recognizing exactly what something is, not just noticing its existence.)
Antonyms
miss (Fail to notice or become aware of something.)
|
overlook (Fail to see or notice something, often by accident.)
Collocations
detect a problem
|detect movement
|detect changes
|detect a signal
|detect a smell
Themes
science
|crime
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The alarm can detect smoke within seconds.
- Scientists detected water on the planet's surface.
- Police dogs are trained to detect drugs.
- This sensor can detect even the smallest movements.
- She detected a slight hesitation in his voice.
Learner examples
- The machine can detect heat.
- I detected a strange smell in the room.
- The police detected the stolen car.
- The test can detect the virus early.
- He detected a sound outside.
Grammar
Dictionary form
detect
IPA
GB/dɪtˈɛkt/
US/dɪtˈɛkt/
Syllables & stress
de - tect (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tect)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: detect
- 3rd Person Singular: detects
- Present Participle: detecting
- Past: detected
Word family
Forms
detects
verb
detecting
verb
detected
verb
Related words
detectable
adjective C1
Negative and opposite forms
undetectable
adjective
undetected
adjective
Expressions
detect a lie
1/dɪtˈɛkt ə lˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
Find out someone is lying
To notice or find out that someone is not telling the truth.
Examples
- It's hard to detect a lie if the person seems confident.
- Some people can easily detect a lie by watching body language.
detect a problem early
1/dɪtˈɛkt ə pɹˈɑbləm ˈɚli/
fixed phrase
Find an issue soon
To find a problem before it gets worse.
Examples
- Regular check-ups help doctors detect a problem early.
- We detected the problem early and fixed it quickly.