discern
/dɪˈsɝn/ verb C1- To detect with the senses, especially with the eyes.
- To perceive, recognize, or comprehend with the mind; to descry.
- To distinguish something as being different from something else; to differentiate or discriminate. · He was too young to discern right from wrong.
- To perceive differences.
He/she/it discerns · Past discerned · Past participle discerned · -ing form discerning
Verb forms
- Base form
- discern
- He/she/it
- discerns
- Past
- discerned
- Past participle
- discerned
- -ing form
- discerning
From the library
Upon the eighth day he discerned a small vessel under full sail approaching Monte Cristo.
Anne washed the dishes deftly enough, as Marilla, who kept a sharp eye on the process, discerned.
Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, to see how cordially he assented to his cousin’s praise: but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss De Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as likely to marry _her_, had she been his relation.
Learn discern in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.