to discover or find by careful search, examination, or probing
"The security team used advanced sensors to detect the hidden intruder behind the wall."
In plain English: To detect means to notice something that is there but not immediately obvious, often by using your senses or special tools.
"The security guard detected the thief hiding in the shadows before he could escape."
Usage: Use detect when you identify something hidden through observation, testing, or investigation rather than seeing it with the naked eye. This verb often pairs with abstract concepts like flaws, signals, or changes that require specific tools or attention to uncover.
Detected.
"The security guard detected the thief hiding behind the curtain before he could steal anything."
The word comes from the Latin detectus, meaning "uncovered," which is formed by combining a prefix with the verb for "to cover." It entered English to describe the act of revealing something that was previously hidden or concealed.