discoververb
uk/dɪˈskʌv.ər/us/dɪˈskʌv.ɚ/B1 [ T ] to find information, a place, or an object, especially for the first time:
Who discovered America?
We searched all morning for the missing papers and finally discovered them in a drawer.
[ + question word ] Scientists have discovered how to predict an earthquake.
[ + (that) ] She discovered (that) her husband was having an affair.
[ + to infinitive ] Following a routine check-up, Mrs Mason was discovered to have heart disease.
[ + obj + -ing verb ] The boss discovered him stealing money from the cash register.
[ T often passive ] to notice that a person has a special ability or quality and to help them to become successful:
Los Angeles is full of young actors working as waiters, hoping to be discovered by a movie agent.
More examples
- She was annoyed to discover that her husband had taken her car keys.
- They set out to discover a cure for cancer.
- Human rights campaigners have discovered documentary evidence of torture.
- The cause of the accident may never be discovered.
- Police discovered the body hidden in thick undergrowth.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Finding and discovering
- a fishing expedition idiom
- alight
- ascertain
- break fresh/new ground idiom
- breakthrough
- catch sb red-handed idiom
- flush
- get wind of sth idiom
- happen
- happen on/upon sth/sb
- have a (good) nose for sth idiom
- have got something there idiom
- root sth/sb out
- run sb/sth to ground idiom
- scent
- search
- search sth/sb out
- smell
- sniff sth out
- stumble
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discoverer
noun [ C ] uk/dɪˈskʌv.ər.ər/us/dɪˈskʌv.ɚ.ɚ/
Jim Watson and Francis Crick were the discoverers of the structure of DNA.