as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
out of the corner of my eye I espied the squirrel making another raid on the bird feeder
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of espy
The film’s comedy is built from a series of infinitesimal touches and chance intrusions, as when Édouard, espying Charles in the street, leaps from his seat at a sidewalk café and jostles a waiter bearing drinks.
—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
9 July 2024
Imprisoned by the Duke of Athens, the cousins espy the beautiful Emilia from their cell—and each man falls immediately in love.
—
Andrea Mays,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 May 2024
If a basket-hanger was espied by the recipient, the recipient would give chase and try to steal a kiss from the basket-hanger.
—
Southern Living Editors,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2024
Images taken from different realities, different spaces, times, places that have been sort of cut out and pasted together to create a new scene that depicts something that no human eye would ever have espied.
—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2023
Resentful 1970s émigrés were prodding the West to espy its true enemy not in communism, but in an irredeemable Russia.
—
Ignat Solzhenitsyn,
WSJ,
23 Oct. 2020
The cub tried to sneak up on him, but was quickly espied by the older lion.
—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE.com,
20 June 2019
For instance, visitors can scan through an electronic infographic for terrariums filled with camouflaging Gulf Coast toads, then head outside onto more than 2 miles of dirt and boardwalk trails to espy the bayou's flora and fauna.
—
Beau Evans,
NOLA.com,
6 Oct. 2017
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
9 July 2024
Imprisoned by the Duke of Athens, the cousins espy the beautiful Emilia from their cell—and each man falls immediately in love.
—
Andrea Mays,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 May 2024
If a basket-hanger was espied by the recipient, the recipient would give chase and try to steal a kiss from the basket-hanger.
—
Southern Living Editors,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2024
Images taken from different realities, different spaces, times, places that have been sort of cut out and pasted together to create a new scene that depicts something that no human eye would ever have espied.
—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2023
Resentful 1970s émigrés were prodding the West to espy its true enemy not in communism, but in an irredeemable Russia.
—
Ignat Solzhenitsyn,
WSJ,
23 Oct. 2020
The cub tried to sneak up on him, but was quickly espied by the older lion.
—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE.com,
20 June 2019
For instance, visitors can scan through an electronic infographic for terrariums filled with camouflaging Gulf Coast toads, then head outside onto more than 2 miles of dirt and boardwalk trails to espy the bayou's flora and fauna.
—
Beau Evans,
NOLA.com,
6 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espy
Verb
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Rest, review, and notice what keeps repeating in your mind.
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Some of you may notice that income streams are shifting, checks are being delayed or there are confusing charges on your accounts.
Verb
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While many people were surprised to see the warning pop up on their phones, especially those living hundreds of miles from the epicenter, officials say the ShakeAlert system is designed to err on the side of caution.
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She was last seen wearing a black shirt and shorts, police said.
Verb
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Within hours, he was spotted on Santa Clara Valley Water District property at Camino Arroyo and Gilman Road.
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The marshals received a tip Tuesday that the man had been spotted at his residence in Meridian, the release said.
Verb
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Europe’s largest economy, like many wealthy nations, is eyeing autonomous bots to address its struggling industrial base and aging workforce.
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In any case, chip stocks are down, too, and investors are eying Intel and others with a certain suspicion, at least short-term.
Cite this Entry
“Espy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espy. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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