discovered by

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Found or learned about for the first time by a particular person or group.

   Grammar: Used in passive sentences: the subject is the thing that was found, and 'by' introduces the person who found it.

   Patterns

   • something was discovered by someone
   • something is discovered by someone

   Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928.

   The lost city was discovered by a team of archaeologists.

   A new species of frog was discovered by scientists in the rainforest.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   Realized or found out by someone through study or investigation.

   Grammar: Often used with facts or truths: 'It was discovered by researchers that...'

   Patterns

   • it was discovered by someone that ...

   It was discovered by the police that the money had been stolen.

   The error was discovered by the accountant during a routine check.

Common combinations

discovered by accident

The cave was discovered by accident when a farmer was digging.

discovered by chance

The rare coin was discovered by chance in a garden.

first discovered by

The element was first discovered by a Swedish chemist.

discovered by means of

The virus was discovered by means of advanced microscopy.

Synonyms and how they differ

found by

More general and can mean 'came across' rather than a formal discovery; 'discovered by' often suggests a deliberate search or scientific finding.

detected by

Used for noticing something that is not obvious, like a signal or a disease; 'discovered by' is broader.

Word family

discover verb

To find something for the first time.

discovery noun

The act of finding something or the thing that is found.

discoverer noun

A person who discovers something.

Commonly confused: discovered by or invented by?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “discovered by”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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