Discern

v.thoughtful, capableprofessional

What it means

Perceive a distinction or underlying truth that is not immediately obvious.

Reach for it when crediting careful observation or judgment that separates similar possibilities

From the faded marks, Leila could discern where the original doorway had stood.

playful
make out
when informal language suits something barely visible or audible
not when The casual phrase weakens a reasoned distinction.
everyday
notice
when simply becoming aware is sufficient
not when Noticing may be accidental and requires less interpretation than discerning.
everyday
recognize
when prior familiarity enables identification
not when Recognition may be immediate rather than the result of close judgment.
professional
detect
when evidence reveals a faint signal or problem
not when Detect sounds technical and can involve instruments rather than human insight.
professional
distinguish
when telling two things apart is the exact task
not when Distinguish does not always involve detecting something partly hidden.
formal
perceive
when subtle awareness is being described neutrally
not when Perception is broader and may concern emotion with no comparison involved.
literary
apprehend
when grasping an idea intellectually is central
not when Apprehend can mean arrest and may distract readers.

discern a pattern
Analysts began to discern a pattern across the scattered reports.
discern the difference
Taste both oils slowly to discern the difference in bitterness.
hard to discern
The old boundary is hard to discern beneath the new woodland.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.