discern

verb

dis·​cern di-ˈsərn How to pronounce discern (audio) -ˈzərn How to pronounce discern (audio)
discerned; discerning; discerns

transitive verb

1
a
: to detect with the eyes
discerned a figure approaching through the fog
b
: to detect with senses other than vision
discerned a strange odor
2
: to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : discriminate
discern right from wrong
3
: to come to know or recognize mentally
unable to discern his motives

intransitive verb

: to see or understand the difference
discerner noun

Examples of discern in a Sentence

A careful analysis of the "Nutrition Facts" panels might provide some guidance, but you would have to do a lot of math before you could discern the best choice. David L. Katz, O, The Oprah Magazine, August 2008
The ability to discern value at a glimpse, to sift the useful out of the rejected with as little expenditure of energy as possible, is the great talent of the scavenger. Matthew Power, Harper's, December 2006
Astronomers are delighted to have found 19 galaxies that appear to be bent out of shape. The distorted images are cosmic mirages, arcs or rings of light created when the gravity of a massive foreground object bends and magnifies the light from a galaxy lying behind it. Albert Einstein predicted the effect … in 1936, but telescopes at the time weren't powerful enough to discern it. R. Cowen, Science News, 21 Jan. 2006
Despite the layers of ironic hesitation, the reader soon discerns that the emotions informing the book are raw and, more importantly, authentic. Publishers Weekly, 13 Dec. 1999
The reasons behind this sudden change are difficult to discern. barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist
Recent Examples on the Web The location helps the Dorchester Collection carve out a new destination for discerning travelers in Dubai’s Marasi Bay Marina. Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 My big board is an attempt to discern who the best players in this draft class actually are. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Feb. 2024 Like The Extinction of Irena Rey, Cosmos features guests staying at a country house in Poland, utterly obsessed with odd clues and discerning patterns and meaning around them. Nathan Jeffers, Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 The exhibits sit beside each other in the Auditorium Showplace and Wrigley Hall, offering visitors the chance to casually stroll from parent to child, possibly without discerning the connection between the two. Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2024 This will provide a ‘big picture’ view of your entire financial situation, and your advisor will be able to discern whether buying a policy is actually a financial necessity (or not). The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Boosting Business Productivity And Cutting Expenses Think of AI as your go-to partner for discerning operational weaknesses and surplus expenses. Sanjay Bhatia, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 For example, a scientist working for British intelligence was able to discern, just by reading the physics journal Physikalische Zeitschrift, that, as of 1941, the Nazis had not committed the resources needed to make an atom bomb. Claudia Roth Pierpont, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 With exquisite costume and set design, and detailed and discerning creative direction, Black Panther beautifully depicts Black royalty, which is not often highlighted in film and television. Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discernen "to discriminate, perceive rationally, see," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French discerner, borrowed from Latin discernere "to separate, divide off, distinguish," from dis- dis- + cernere "to sift, discern, decide, determine" — more at certain entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of discern was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near discern

Cite this Entry

“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discern. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

discern

verb
dis·​cern dis-ˈərn How to pronounce discern (audio) diz- How to pronounce discern (audio)
1
: to detect with the eyes : distinguish
discern an airplane in the clouds
2
: to come to know, recognize, or understand
discern the basic issue
discern right from wrong
discernible
-ˈər-nə-bəl
adjective
discernibly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on discern

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!