Discover — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Discover (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. to come to an awareness of

   "I was startled to discover that my keys were missing"

   similar: ascertain, catch on (to), find out, get on (to), hear, learn, realize, see, wise (up), get wind of
   related: hit (on or upon), tumble (to), descry, detect, encounter, espy, spot, calculate, dope (out), figure out, find, puzzle (out), discern, mind, note, observe, perceive, divine
   near: miss, overlook, disregard, ignore, forget, unlearn, blanket, blot out, cloak, conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, mask, occult, screen, shroud, veil

2. to come upon after searching, study, or effort

   "we hope to discover the real reason for his odd behavior"

   similar: ascertain, descry, detect, determine, dig out, dig up, dredge (up), ferret (out), find, find out, get, hit (on or upon), hunt (down or up), learn, locate, nose out, root (out), rout (out), rummage, run down, scare up, scout (up), track (down), turn up
   related: espy, sight, spot, look for, search (for or out), seek
   opposite: miss, overlook, pass over
   near: lose, mislay, misplace, misset

3. to make known (as information previously kept secret)

   "discovered to his friend how people whom he had trusted had betrayed him"

   similar: bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), reveal, spill, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil, bring to light, go public (with), let the cat out of the bag (about), spill the beans (about)
   related: confide, share, debunk, show up, unclothe, undrape, advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound, betray, blab, give away, leak, inform, squeal, talk, communicate, impart, relate, acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own, disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth
   opposite: cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil
   near: camouflage, disguise, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash, becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade