discern

UK: /dɪˈsɜː^rn/ US: /dɪˈsɝn/ ,(di sûrn′, -zûrn′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•cern /dɪˈsɜrn/   v. [not: be + ~-ing]

1. to perceive by the sight or by the intellect;
   recognize:
   [~ + object] She could discern a faint light ahead in the forest.
2. to distinguish in the mind: [~ + object]
   to discern right from wrong.
   [~ + that clause]
   Can he discern that his enemies are doing harm to him?

dis•cern•i•ble, dis•cern•a•ble, adj.: 

The light was barely discernible in the distance.

dis•cern•ment, n. [uncountable] See -cern-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•cern  (di sûrn′, -zûrn′), v.t. 

1. to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect;
   see, recognize, or apprehend:
   They discerned a sail on the horizon.
2. to distinguish mentally;
   recognize as distinct or different;
   discriminate:
   He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.

v.i. 

3. to distinguish or discriminate.

• Latin discernere to separate, equivalent. to dis- dis-¹ + cernere to separate
• Old French)
• Middle English (1300–50

dis•cern′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. discover, descry, espy. See notice. 
• 2, 3. differentiate, judge.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

discern / dɪˈsɜːn/ verb

1. (transitive) to recognize or perceive clearly
2. to recognize or perceive (differences)

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere to divide, from dis-¹ (apart) + cernere to separate