Descry
verb
To see or catch sight of something from a distance.
From the top of the hill, she could descry the distant city skyline.
Often appears as...
- descry a figure
- descry in the distance
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
verb
To discover or find out something by observation or study.
Through careful investigation, the researcher was able to descry the cause of the anomaly.
Often appears as...
- descry the truth
- descry the mystery
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
verb
To see or catch sight of something from a distance.
From the top of the hill, she could descry the distant city skyline.
Often appears as...
- descry a figure
- descry in the distance
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
verb
To discover or find out something by observation or study.
Through careful investigation, the researcher was able to descry the cause of the anomaly.
Often appears as...
- descry the truth
- descry the mystery
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Distant Spotting
Used when something is recognized at a far distance, not up close.
Standing on the cliff, I could just descry the ship on the horizon.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Discovery
Implies putting effort into spotting something rather than seeing it casually.
She squinted to descry the mountain peak through the fog.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Flair
Often found in literature to evoke a sense of observation and discovery.
The novel began as the hero descried a strange vessel approaching.
Pro Tip 1/3Distant Spotting
Used when something is recognized at a far distance, not up close.
Standing on the cliff, I could just descry the ship on the horizon.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Discovery
Implies putting effort into spotting something rather than seeing it casually.
She squinted to descry the mountain peak through the fog.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Flair
Often found in literature to evoke a sense of observation and discovery.
The novel began as the hero descried a strange vessel approaching.
Pro Tip 1/3Distant Spotting
Used when something is recognized at a far distance, not up close.
Standing on the cliff, I could just descry the ship on the horizon.
Pro Tip 2/3Visual Discovery
Implies putting effort into spotting something rather than seeing it casually.
She squinted to descry the mountain peak through the fog.
Pro Tip 3/3Literary Flair
Often found in literature to evoke a sense of observation and discovery.
The novel began as the hero descried a strange vessel approaching.
Never forget "Descry"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Quote examples
Abbott L. Lowell
All that you may achieve or discover you will regard as a fragment of a larger pattern of the truth which from the separate approaches every true scholar is striving to descry.
Quote examples
Abbott L. Lowell
All that you may achieve or discover you will regard as a fragment of a larger pattern of the truth which from the separate approaches every true scholar is striving to descry.
Example 1 of 1
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension