Collocations for "detect"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "detect" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
detect
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- detect the [presence, threat] (of)
- detect [an intruder, movement, any changes]
- [a system, an alarm, a device] to detect [intruders]
- detect [drugs, fraud, crime]
- detect (the presence of) [alcohol, marijuana] in his blood
- detect a [stale, musty, fruity] odor (of)
- detect a [hint, note] of
- detect (a hint of) [satire, sarcasm, hatred]
- Do I detect a [hint] of sarcasm (in your voice)?
- detect and [secure, prevent, defend, avoid, ensure, identify]
- detect [how, when, where, what, if]
'detect' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
able
- activity
- beam
- bell
- clarity
- colon
- controller
- counterfeit
- dose
- dwarf
- forgery
- ghost
- hint
- imaging
- increased
- mental
- parallel
- pattern
- presence
- probe
- rift
- screening
- shrewd
- smack
- stir
- storm
- strain
- strength
- test
- threat
- tone
- transmission
- trigger
- wand
- weakness