Discover vs. Find: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Published on November 24, 2023
To "discover" is to unveil or come upon something previously unknown, while to "find" means to come across or recover something that was lost or sought.
Difference Between Discover and Find
"Discover" and "find" are both verbs that describe the act of coming upon something, but their nuances are distinct. To "discover" is to encounter or become aware of something for the first time or bring it to the attention of others. In essence, "discovering" means unveiling or unearthing something previously unknown or not acknowledged. For example, scientists might discover a new species, implying that the species was not recognized before this moment.
Muazma Batool
Nov 24, 2023
On the other hand, "find" is more general. It encompasses the act of coming across or recovering something, either intentionally or unintentionally. "Finding" doesn't necessarily mean that the item or concept was unknown to the world, but rather that it was sought or stumbled upon by the individual. For instance, one might find their lost keys, which were always in existence but just momentarily misplaced.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 24, 2023
Another layer to consider is the breadth of application. "Discover" often has broader implications, suggesting a new revelation or insight that might have significant implications. For instance, discovering a new planet or a medical cure can have wide-ranging consequences.
Muazma Batool
Nov 24, 2023
In contrast, "find" is frequently more personal or localized. It can refer to everyday occurrences, like finding a book in a library or finding a coin on the street. While the action is important to the individual, it might not have broader societal implications.
Elijah
Nov 24, 2023
In essence, while both terms highlight the action of coming upon something, "discover" emphasizes unveiling the previously unknown, and "find" focuses on the act of encountering or recovering.
Leo
Nov 24, 2023
Discover vs. Find Comparison Chart
Definition
Unveiling something previously unknown
Encountering or recovering something
Muazma Batool
Nov 24, 2023
Application
Often related to new revelations or insights
Refers to everyday occurrences
Muazma Batool
Nov 24, 2023
Previous Knowledge
Something not previously known to the discoverer or public
Something known but lost or sought
Kaitlyn
Nov 24, 2023
Breadth
Has significant implications
Importance is often limited to the individual
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 24, 2023
Discover vs. Find Definitions
◉Discover
To unveil something not previously recognized.
Scientists discover a new element in the periodic table.
Muazma Batool
Sep 15, 2023
◉Find
To recover something lost or misplaced.
I was relieved to find my glasses on the table.
Muazma Batool
Sep 15, 2023
◉Discover
To come upon after study or exploration.
He was thrilled to discover a hidden talent for painting.
Jonathan
Sep 15, 2023
◉Discover
To ascertain through analysis or investigation.
Researchers discover patterns in data that were previously unseen.
Elijah
Sep 15, 2023
◉Discover
To notice or learn, especially by making an effort
got home and discovered that the furnace wasn't working.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To be the first, or the first of one's group or kind, to find, learn of, or observe.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To come upon or discover by searching or making an effort
finally found the leak in the pipe.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To learn about for the first time in one's experience
discovered a new restaurant on the west side.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To discover or ascertain through observation, experience, or study
found a solution.
find the product of two numbers.
found that it didn't really matter.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To learn something about
discovered him to be an impostor.
discovered the brake to be defective.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To perceive to be, after experience or consideration
found the gadget surprisingly useful.
found the book entertaining.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To identify (a person) as a potentially prominent performer
a movie star who was discovered in a drugstore by a producer.
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To find or learn something for the first time.
Turning the corner, I discovered a lovely little shop. I discovered that they sold widgets.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To expose, uncover.
The gust of wind discovered a bone in the sand.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To create by moving a piece out of another piece's line of attack.
This move discovers an attack on a vital pawn.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
To decide on and make a declaration about
The jury deliberated and found a verdict of guilty.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To reveal (information); to divulge, make known.
I discovered my plans to the rest of the team.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To bring (oneself) to an awareness of what one truly wishes to be and do in life.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
To perceive (oneself) to be in a specific place or condition
found herself at home that night.
found himself drawn to the stranger.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
To come to a legal decision or verdict
The jury found for the defendant.
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To uncover.
Whether any man hath pulled down or discovered any church.
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To disclose; to lay open to view; to make visible; to reveal; to make known; to show (what has been secret, unseen, or unknown).
Go, draw aside the curtains, and discoverThe several caskets to this noble prince.
Prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
We will discover ourselves unto them.
Discover not a secret to another.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
Something that is found, especially an unexpectedly valuable discovery
The Rosetta stone was a providential archaeological find.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To obtain for the first time sight or knowledge of, as of a thing existing already, but not perceived or known; to find; to ascertain; to espy; to detect.
Some to discover islands far away.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To manifest without design; to show.
The youth discovered a taste for sculpture.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
(transitive) To encounter or discover by accident; to happen upon.
I found this shell on the beach
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
(transitive) To encounter or discover something being searched for; to locate.
I found my car keys. They were under the couch.
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To discover or show one's self.
This done, they discover.
Nor was this the first time that they discovered to be followers of this world.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
(ditransitive) Locate on behalf of another
I found you a new place to live
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of;
She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water
We found traces of lead in the paint
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
(ditransitive) To discover by study or experiment direct to an object or end.
Water is found to be a compound substance.
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
make a discovery, make a new finding;
Roentgen discovered X-rays
Physicists believe they found a new elementary particle
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
(transitive) To gain, as the object of desire or effort.
to find leisure; to find means
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally;
I learned that she has two grown-up children
I see that you have been promoted
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
(transitive) To attain to; to arrive at; to acquire.
Looks like he found a new vehicle for himself!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
make a discovery;
She found that he had lied to her
The story is false, so far as I can discover
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
find unexpectedly;
the archeologists chanced upon an old tomb
she struck a goldmine
The hikers finally struck the main path to the lake
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
(ditransitive) To decide that, to discover that, to form the opinion that.
I find your argument unsatisfactory.
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret;
The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold
The actress won't reveal how old she is
bring out the truth
he broke the news to her
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
(transitive) To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish.
to find a verdict; to find a true bill (of indictment) against an accused person
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Discover
see for the first time; make a discovery;
Who discovered the North Pole?
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May 03, 2023
◉Discover
To be the first to recognize or know about.
She was credited for discovering the medicinal properties of the plant.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 15, 2023
◉Discover
To bring to public attention.
The talent scout helped discover many famous musicians.
William
Sep 15, 2023
◉Find
To successfully pass to or shoot the ball into.
Peters finds Jinkins, who is running down the left wing.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
Anything that is found (usually valuable), as objects on an archeological site or a person with talent.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To meet with, or light upon, accidentally; to gain the first sight or knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to fall in with, as a person.
Searching the window for a flint, I foundThis paper, thus sealed up.
In woods and forests thou art found.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To learn by experience or trial; to perceive; to experience; to discover by the intellect or the feelings; to detect; to feel.
The torrid zone is now found habitable.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
To come upon by seeking; as, to find something lost.
Seek, and ye shall find.
Every mountain now hath found a tongue.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
To provide for; to supply; to furnish; as, to find food for workemen; he finds his nephew in money.
Wages £14 and all found.
Nothing a day and find yourself.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish; as, to find a verdict; to find a true bill (of indictment) against an accused person.
To find his title with some shows of truth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To determine an issue of fact, and to declare such a determination to a court; as, the jury find for the plaintiff.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
Anything found; a discovery of anything valuable; especially, a deposit, discovered by archæologists, of objects of prehistoric or unknown origin.
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
come upon, as if by accident; meet with;
We find this idea in Plato
I happened upon the most wonderful bakery not very far from here
She chanced upon an interesting book in the bookstore the other day
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of;
She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water
We found traces of lead in the paint
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
come upon after searching; find the location of something that was missed or lost;
Did you find your glasses?
I cannot find my gloves!
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study;
find the product of two numbers
The physicist who found the elusive particle won the Nobel Prize
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
come to believe on the basis of emotion, intuitions, or indefinite grounds;
I feel that he doesn't like me
I find him to be obnoxious
I found the movie rather entertaining
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
perceive or be contemporaneous with;
We found Republicans winning the offices
You'll see a lot of cheating in this school
I want to see results
The 1960 saw the rebellion of the younger generation against established traditions
I want to see results
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
get something or somebody for a specific purpose;
I found this gadget that will serve as a bottle opener
I got hold of these tools to fix our plumbing
The chairman got hold of a secretary on Friday night to type the urgent letter
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
make a discovery, make a new finding;
Roentgen discovered X-rays
Physicists believe they found a new elementary particle
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
make a discovery;
She found that he had lied to her
The story is false, so far as I can discover
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
obtain through effort or management;
She found the time and energy to take care of her aging parents
We found the money to send our sons to college
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
receive a specified treatment (abstract);
These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation
His movie received a good review
I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
perceive oneself to be in a certain condition or place;
I found myself in a difficult situation
When he woke up, he found himself in a hospital room
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
get or find back; recover the use of;
She regained control of herself
She found her voice and replied quickly
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May 03, 2023
◉Find
accept and make use of one's personality, abilities, and situation;
My son went to Berkeley to find himself
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Find
To come upon after searching or effort.
She managed to find the solution to the complex problem.
Kaitlyn
Sep 15, 2023
◉Find
To encounter or perceive.
Visitors often find the museum's exhibits fascinating.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 15, 2023
Discover vs. Find Frequently Asked Questions
Which term has broader societal implications?
Discover often has wider implications.
Muazma Batool
Nov 24, 2023
Is find always about lost items?
No, find can also mean to encounter or ascertain something.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 24, 2023
Can discover be used in a personal context?
Yes, like discovering a personal passion or talent.
Elijah
Nov 24, 2023
How do find and discover differ in intensity?
Discover often carries more weight, suggesting a revelation; find is more general.
William
Nov 24, 2023
What does discover usually imply?
Discover implies unveiling something previously unknown.
Muazma Batool
Nov 24, 2023
Does discover always mean it's a first-time event?
Typically, it suggests newness or previous unawareness.
Olivia
Nov 24, 2023
Is it correct to say "I discovered my keys in my bag"?
Typically, "found" is more apt as the keys were known but misplaced.
Muneeza Rehman
Nov 24, 2023
Can you find something you already know about?
Yes, especially if it's been sought or was missing.
Levi
Nov 24, 2023
Does one always seek to find something?
No, one can accidentally or unexpectedly find things too.
Jonathan
Nov 24, 2023
Which verb would you use for unearthing historical artifacts?
Both can apply; you might "find" an artifact and "discover" its significance.
Leo
Nov 24, 2023
Content Creators
Written by
Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
Edited by
Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
