1. to catch sight of something, especially something distant or difficult to see
Usage: formal; literary
2. to discover or find out something through careful observation
Usage: formal

Examples

• From the lighthouse, the keeper could descry ships on the distant horizon.
• The scout managed to descry enemy movements through the dense forest.
• She tried to descry her friend’s face in the crowded stadium.
• The detective hoped to descry clues that others had missed.
• Through the fog, we could barely descry the outline of the mountain.
• The astronomer was able to descry new celestial objects with the powerful telescope.