perceive

per·ceive

verb \pər-ˈsēv\

per·ceivedper·ceiv·ing

Definition of PERCEIVE

transitive verb

1

a : to attain awareness or understanding of b : to regard as being such <perceived threats> <was perceived as a loser>

2

: to become aware of through the senses; especially : see, observe

— per·ceiv·able \-ˈsē-və-bəl\ adjective

— per·ceiv·ably \-blē\ adverb

— per·ceiv·er noun

Examples of PERCEIVE

1. <I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure.>
2. <perceived that it was going to be a nice day>
3. We perceive by means of the kaleidoscopic mirror of this life. This means that our ability to perceive is at one tyrannized by our expectations, and at war with them. —James Baldwin, The Evidence of Things Not Seen, 1985
4. Standing in the hallway just out of sight during this interview was Sarah. She held her baby on her hip and she listened. She perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune. —E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime, 1974
5. … and when they perceived her to be little struck with the duet they were so good as to play, they could do no more than make her a generous present of some of their least valued toys, and leave her to herself, while they adjourned to whatever might be the favourite holiday sport of the moment, making artificial flowers or wasting gold paper. —Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

Origin of PERCEIVE

Middle English, from Anglo-French perceivre, from Latin percipere, from per- thoroughly + capere to take — more at heave

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PERCEIVE

Synonyms: feel, scent, see, sense, smell, taste

Antonyms: miss

Related Words: behold, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, feel, regard, remark, sight, spy, view, witness; ascertain, catch on (to), discover, find out, hear, learn, realize; anticipate, divine, expect, foreknow, foresee; assume, conjecture, guess, presume, speculate, suppose, surmise, suspect

Near Antonyms: disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Rhymes with PERCEIVE

Abib, achieve, aggrieve, believe, bereave, cap sleeve, conceive, deceive, French leave, frost heave, Hoccleve, inweave, khedive, motive, naive, pet peeve, plain weave, qui vive, receive, relieve, reprieve, retrieve, shirtsleeve, shore leave, sick leave, unreeve, unweave, upheave