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(Physics) experiments yield results, but I'm looking for a verb for the finding of a result.

"Find" seems to underestimate personal input in the experiment. Other words like "Obtain" seem strange.

Is there a proper term?

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closed as not a real question by J.R., KitFox May 10 '13 at 12:36


Standard terminology in science papers is "We found that ..." & "The results obtained supported/contradicted ..." etc. Most science journals don't care about your personal input. They want their sentences in the impersonal active &, preferably, passive voice. In what kind of sentence do you want to use the personalized verb? Something like: "After we'd bled, sweated, & cried a lot, we finally created some publishable data for the tiresome & expensive experiments we had to run to write this paper"? What's wrong with the traditional way of saying things? –  user21497 May 10 '13 at 7:56
possible duplicate of What is the word for "showing that something is meaningful"? –  J.R. May 10 '13 at 9:28
Have a Eureka moment –  Mynamite May 10 '13 at 10:12
In its present form this would be a NARQ because it is open-ended. Include an example sentence and sufficient context to avoid the post being closed. –  Kris May 10 '13 at 11:47
We have stringent standards for single word requests. This question does not meet them. You may edit your question to fit those guidelines and it may be reopened then. –  KitFox May 10 '13 at 12:36

2 Answers 2

Isn't discovered the word you are looking for?

verb (used with object) 1. to see, get knowledge of, learn of, find, or find out; gain sight or knowledge of (something previously unseen or unknown): to discover America; to discover electricity. Synonyms: detect, espy, descry, discern, ascertain, unearth, ferret out, notice. 2. to notice or realize: I discovered I didn't have my credit card with me when I went to pay my bill.
3. Archaic. to make known; reveal; disclose.

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We DETERMINED that the permittivity of space within the vacuum chamber varied between 8.8e-12 and 3.2e-10 farads per meter. –  Wayfaring Stranger May 10 '13 at 13:33

Ferret would be close.


verb (ferrets, ferreting, ferreted)
1 [no object] (of a person) hunt with ferrets, typically for rabbits:
   (as noun ferreting)
   ferreting is increasing in popularity
    [with object] clear (a hole or area of ground) of rabbits with ferrets.
2 [no object] rummage about in a place or container in search of something:
   he shambled over to the desk and ferreted around
   [with object] (ferret something out) discover information by means of an assiduous search or investigation:
   she had the ability to ferret out the facts

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