DETECTING definition: 1. present participle of detect 2. to notice something that is partly hidden or not clear, or to…. Learn more. However, personally detecting mental health problems did not necessarily translate into anything further. Detecting refers to the process of discovering, identifying, recognizing, or noticing something, usually through observing, collecting data, or using specific tools or techniques. transitive verb 1 : to discover the true character of detecting drug smugglers 2 : to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of detect alcohol in the blood Define detecting. detecting synonyms, detecting pronunciation, detecting translation, English dictionary definition of detecting. tr.v. de·tect·ed , de·tect·ing , de·tects 1. To discover or ascertain the existence, presence, or fact of. 2. To discern : detected a note of sarcasm in the. Find 69 different ways to say DETECTING, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com. detecting Add to list Definitions of detecting noun a police investigation to determine the perpetrator synonyms: detection, detective work, sleuthing Synonyms for DETECTING: finding, learning, discovering, locating, getting, determining, ascertaining, tracking (down); Antonyms of DETECTING: missing, overlooking, passing over, losing, misplacing, mislaying, missetting DETECTING definition: present participle of detect. See examples of detecting used in a sentence. In other words, if one used equipment designed to examine electrons as particles, they would appear to behave as particles; if one used equipment best suited for detecting waves, they appeared as waves.