also: みだす
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
discover; find out; detect; notice
Often used when one discerns something not immediately obvious, such as a value, tendency, problem, cause, or possibility. More written and abstract than 見つける.
彼女は失敗の中に新しい可能性を見出した。
She discovered a new possibility in the failure.
The research team detected an unusual pattern in the data.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used for picking out someone or something from among many by recognizing its worth, suitability, or relevance. It overlaps with 'discover' but emphasizes selection from a set.
審査員は多くの作品の中から優れた三点を見出した。
The judges picked out three outstanding works from among the many entries.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
look out from inside
Only when written 見出す · Only with reading みだす
Limited and old-fashioned use meaning to look outward from an interior. Modern Japanese would usually say 外を見る or 外をのぞく instead.
古い文章では「窓から外を見出す」のように、室内から外を見る意味で使われることがある。
In older writing, 見出す（みだす） may be used as in 'look out through the window' from inside a room.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
open one's eyes wide; be wide-eyed
Only when written 見出す · Only with reading みだす
Old or limited expression, typically understood as opening the eyes wide from surprise, anger, or a similar emotion. It is not a common modern everyday use of 見出す.
「目を見出す」は、驚きや怒りで目を大きく開く古い言い方だ。
目を見出す（みだす） is an old expression for opening one's eyes wide in surprise or anger.