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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

discerning

Adjective

IPA /dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ/

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Meaning in plain English

Good at noticing differences in quality and using careful judgment to choose what is valuable, suitable or well made.

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Pronunciation

discerning/dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ/

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  1. My discerning aunt always finds the best fruit at the market.
  2. A discerning reader checks the evidence before accepting an argument.

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discerning — Good at noticing differences in quality and using careful judgment to choose what is valuable, suitable or well made.

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Good at noticing differences in quality and using careful judgment to choose what is valuable, suitable or well made.

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Word origin

Formed from discern and -ing, using the verb's participle as an adjective.

Did you know?

A discerning eye means an ability to notice quality or important differences.

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discerning

/dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ/ (Adjective)

“Discerning usually expresses approval of someone's taste or judgment.”

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