What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
perceive
Example
I perceive a hint of sadness in her voice. [perceive: verb]
Example
His perception of the situation was different from mine. [perception: noun]
detect
Example
The machine can detect even the slightest change in temperature. [detect: verb]
Example
The detective was able to detect a clue that others had missed. [detective: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Perceive is more commonly used than detect in everyday language. Perceive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while detect is less common and often used in technical or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between perceive and detect?
Detect is typically associated with a more formal or technical tone, while perceive is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
