Definition of Discern:
Discern (verb): To perceive or recognize something; to distinguish something with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
Synonyms: detect, recognize, perceive, distinguish
Antonyms: overlook, ignore, miss
Memory Tip: Think of “discern” as “discovering” something—when you discern, you discover or recognize subtle differences.
Conversation and Short Story Examples
Conversation Example: Here is how “discern” can be used in a casual conversation:
- Jane: I can’t tell if she’s being serious or just joking.
Mark: It’s hard to discern her tone sometimes; she’s really good at keeping a straight face.
Short Story Example: Let’s see how “discern” can be used in a narrative context:
- As a seasoned detective, Sarah had developed a keen ability to discern subtle clues that others might overlook. Walking into the crime scene, she immediately noticed a faint footprint that was almost invisible to the naked eye. Her colleagues had missed it, but Sarah’s sharp eyes and years of experience allowed her to discern this critical piece of evidence. It was this attention to detail that often made the difference in solving a case.
Everyday Conversations
Here are examples of how to use “discern” in a sentence during everyday conversations. Each sentence using “discern” shows how it might naturally come up in casual dialogue:
- It’s difficult to discern the real motives behind his actions.
- She could barely discern the outline of the distant mountains through the fog.
- I can usually discern when someone is lying, but he’s very convincing.
Business and Professional Settings
Here are sentences using “discern” in a professional setting. These examples of “discern” in a sentence demonstrate how it can be applied in business and work environments:
- The manager was able to discern patterns in the data that suggested a need for strategic changes.
- It’s important for leaders to discern the strengths and weaknesses of their team members.
Educational and Academic Examples
These sentences show how “discern” can be used in academic settings. Each sentence with “discern” emphasizes its relevance in educational and scholarly contexts:
- The student was able to discern subtle differences between the two theories after careful study.
- In her research paper, she discerned key trends that had previously been overlooked by other scholars.
Social and Cultural Contexts
Here are examples of “discern” in a sentence within social and cultural contexts. Each sentence for “discern” highlights its application in discussions about society and culture:
- It’s often hard to discern the true impact of social media on modern culture.
- As cultures blend, it becomes more challenging to discern the origins of certain traditions.
Part of Speech
Explore how “discern” is used in different parts of speech:
- Verb: She could discern a hint of hesitation in his voice.
- Adjective: His discerning taste in art made him a respected critic in the community.
Tenses
Examples of “discern” used in different tenses:
- Past Tense: The researchers discerned a correlation between the two variables.
- Present Tense: She discerns a shift in public opinion regarding the issue.
- Future Tense: As technology advances, it will become easier to discern patterns in large data sets.
Moods
How “discern” is used in different moods:
- Imperative Mood: Discern the truth before making any accusations.
- Interrogative Mood: Can you discern any differences between these two reports?
- Exclamatory Mood: How clearly she discerned the meaning behind his words!
Voices
How “discern” is used in different voices:
- Active Voice: The scientist discerned a pattern in the experiment’s results.
- Passive Voice: The pattern was discerned by the scientist after extensive analysis.
Literary Devices
How “discern” can be used in various literary devices:
- Metaphor: She tried to discern the truth, like separating wheat from chaff in a whirlwind of information.
- Simile: His ability to discern people’s true intentions was like a sharp blade cutting through fog.
- Personification: Wisdom discerned the path ahead, guiding her through the maze of decisions.
- Alliteration: The detective’s duty was to discern deception, delving deep into the details.
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