1. to catch sight of something, especially something distant or difficult to see
Usage: literary; formal

Examples

• The sailor descries a ship on the horizon.
• From the mountaintop, she descries the valley below.
• The scout descries enemy movement in the distance.
• He descries a figure approaching through the fog.
• The lookout descries land after weeks at sea.
• She descries her lost dog running across the field.