discover

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discover" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to finding out or learning something new, whether it's information, a place, or an idea. Example: "As I explored the old library, I was excited to discover a rare manuscript hidden among the shelves."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thinking they are heading uphill they accelerate – only to discover they are speeding along faster than intended.

The Guardian - Travel

This is where the city's Youth Hostel is located, but it is doubtful if even the most ardent traveller gets to discover the quirky Food & Art.

The Guardian - Travel

He once told a story about going out for a night in Wales only to discover he could not get back into the team hotel.

The Guardian - Sport

The camera trap also permits [us] to discover new species and to confirm some species as golden cats, gigantic pangolin, ratel [or honey badger]." McPhee's work, which he is currently crafting into a master's thesis, is not going unnoticed.

The Guardian

McPhee and his team compared their findings with another camera trap survey in a non-hunted forest in Lomami national park, only to discover that the lesula appeared to be doing as well in the heavily-hunted forest as in the non-hunted one.

The Guardian

It wasn't so long ago, of course, that Simon Cowell's serious political endorsement was ferociously sought by both major parties, with Gordon Brown said to have been in agonies to discover that the Sun's splash on the morning of the 2010 general election featured Cowell coming out for the Tories.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Archibald arrived at his new domain last month to discover that, on the eve of the first match of the season, the previous chairman had turned up in the dead of night with a removal van and taken away what few assets remained at the club.

The Guardian - Sport

As I gazed at this seemingly impenetrable 935m-high wall of rock, my sentiments echoed those of Miss Jemima, who noted: "We were hard put to discover a path, or to understand how we should reach its summit".

The Guardian - Travel

"Make this the year YOU discover a new destination," he sarcastically writes in its captions, recalling the banal exhortations of holiday brochures.

The Guardian - Arts

Having just, and very satisfyingly, reshelved my cookery books, I was puzzled to discover that not a single volume in the French section contained a recipe for coq au riesling.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So alongside data showing how tenants will be hit by the government proposals, you can also discover how much on average a recipient of LHA will lose by area, and the percentage of recipients who will lose out in each region.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing academically, make sure that when you "discover" an interesting topic, do a thorough research and formulate an original and well-founded hypothesis.

Common error

Avoid using "discover" when you mean to say "invent". "Discover" means to find something that already exists, while "invent" means to create something new.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "discover" is as a transitive verb, indicating the act of finding something unexpectedly or learning something new. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts, including news and travel, showcasing its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

5%

Travel

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Books

1%

Lifestyle

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "discover" functions as a transitive verb used to describe the act of finding or learning something new, often with an element of surprise. As verified by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and sees very common usage, especially in News & Media, Travel and Formal & Business contexts. While versatile, it should not be confused with "invent", and alternatives like "find out" or "uncover" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When writing, ensure that you are using "discover" to indicate finding something that already exists rather than creating something new. The analysis highlights its widespread acceptability and consistent use across various sources, affirming its place as a reliable and useful term in the English language. Finally, do proper research before you "discover" an interesting topic so your hypotheses are well-founded.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

learn

A general term for gaining knowledge.

uncover

Implies revealing something previously hidden.

find

A simple way to indicate locating something.

find out

A more casual way of saying "learn" or "ascertain".

come across

Suggests finding something unexpectedly.

reveal

Emphasizes making something known that was previously secret.

detect

Suggests using one's senses or instruments to notice something.

realize

Implies a sudden understanding or awareness.

stumble upon

Implies a completely accidental finding.

ascertain

Implies investigation and confirmation.

FAQs

How can I use "discover" in a sentence?

You can use "discover" to describe finding something new, learning new information, or realizing something for the first time. For example, "I "discovered" a new café downtown."

What can I say instead of "discover"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "find out", "uncover", "learn", or "realize".

Is there a difference between "discover" and "invent"?

"Discover" means to find something that already exists, whereas "invent" means to create something new. It is a common mistake to use them interchangeably.

When is it appropriate to use "discover" in formal writing?

It's appropriate to use "discover" in formal writing when describing the process of finding new information, insights, or evidence through research or investigation. Ensure the context aligns with the act of uncovering something previously unknown.