In a sentence
Six example sentences with discern, each labelled with its topic.
In the underexposed frame you can just discern a heron standing at the far edge of the reeds.
Photography
Under raking light the conservator could discern an earlier portrait beneath the seascape, complete with a collar and one ear.
Art
Veterans discern the boss's next attack from a half-second flicker in its shoulder, long before the wind-up animation begins.
Gaming
With the volume low you can still discern the cello line moving under the melody, steady as a heartbeat.
Music
Experienced traders discern a shift in the market days before the headlines, reading it in volumes rather than prices.
Finance
Only on a second reading did I discern the pattern in the chapter titles, which spell out the villain's name.
Literature
Study discern until you keep it
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Found in these word lists
Found in 6 published word lists
- University Word List (Xue & Nation 1984)Authoritative
- GRE 3000+ word list (widely used study list)Recognized
- PrepScholar 357 GRE WordsRecognized
- PowerScore GRE Repeat Offenders (699)Recognized
- SparkNotes 1000 SAT WordsRecognized
- MajorTests SAT 1000Recognized
Each source is a published word list that contains discern. No exam board publishes an official GRE, GMAT or SAT list; GMAT words come from GRE lists and the Academic Word List.