Meaning & use
discern
To perceive, recognize, or understand something clearly, especially when it is not obvious at first.
See it in a sentence
Through the thick fog, the sailors could barely discern the shape of the lighthouse.
It took years of experience for the appraiser to discern real gems from clever fakes.
A note on using this word
Discern often implies effort or skill in noticing something subtle, unlike simpler verbs like 'see' or 'notice.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
overlookmiss
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “discern”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.