see

play

verb \ ˈsē \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of see

saw play \ˈsȯ\; seen play \ˈsēn\; seeing play \ˈsē-iŋ\

transitive verb

1 a :to perceive by the eye

b :to perceive or detect as if by sight

2 a :to have experience of :undergo

see army service

b :to come to know :discover

c :to be the setting or time of

the last fifty years have seen a sweeping revolution in science
—Barry Commoner

3 a :to form a mental picture of :visualize

can still see her as she was years ago

b :to perceive the meaning or importance of :understand

c :to be aware of :recognize

sees only our faults

d :to imagine as a possibility :suppose

couldn't see him as a crook

4 a :examine, watch

want to see how she handles the problem

b (1) :read

(2) :to read of

c :to attend as a spectator

see a play

5 a :to take care of :provide for

had enough money to see us through

b :to make sure

see that order is kept

6 a :to regard as :judge

b :to prefer to have

I'll see him hanged first

I'll see you dead before I accept your terms

c :to find acceptable or attractive

can't understand what he sees in her

7 a :to call on :visit

b (1) :to keep company with especially in courtship or dating

had been seeing each other for a year

(2) :to grant an interview to :receive

the president will see you now

8 :accompany, escort

see the guests to the door

9 :to meet (a bet) in poker or to equal the bet of (a player) :call

intransitive verb

1 a :to give or pay attention

b :to look about

2 a :to have the power of sight

b :to apprehend objects by sight

c :to perceive objects as if by sight

3 a :to grasp something mentally

b :to acknowledge or consider something being pointed out

see, I told you it would rain

4 :to make investigation or inquiry

—

seeable

play \ˈsē-ə-bəl\ adjective

— see after

:to attend to :care for

— see eye to eye

:to have a common viewpoint :agree

— see red

:to become very angry

— see the light

:to discover or realize a usually obscured truth

— see the light of day

:to become publicly known or available (as through publication)

manuscripts that will never see the light of day

— see things

:hallucinate

— see through

:to grasp the true nature of

saw through the scheme

— see to

:to attend to :care for

See see defined for English-language learners

See see defined for kids

Examples of see in a Sentence

It was so dark that I couldn't see anything.
I can't see a thing without my glasses.
Would you turn on the light? I can hardly see a thing.
Let me see what you're holding in your hand.
I saw your sister at the party, but I didn't talk to her.
I saw her take the money.
Nobody saw the accident happen.
He was last seen leaving his house yesterday morning.
You have to see it to believe it.
“He says he's coming.” “I'll believe it when I see it.”

Recent Examples of see from the Web

For details, call 708-848-1560 or see www.oprfcf.org.

— pioneer press, chicagotribune.com, "OPRF Rotarian creates scholarship fund," 30 Aug. 2017
Investigators are required to make audio or video recordings of statements from civilian witnesses, but not from officers who participated or who saw what happened.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
Many changes on evacuation plans for animals now seen during natural disasters came in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

— meredith colias, Post-Tribune, "Northwest Indiana rescue shelters to send volunteers, supplies for pets affected by Harvey," 30 Aug. 2017
For more, see best bets for: pop music | theater | visual art | dance | books | film | eclectic | suburban events.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "10 best bets for classical music in the Baltimore area this fall," 30 Aug. 2017
See how Ohio's four-year colleges fared in the national university rankings and national liberal arts school rankings.

— cleveland.com, "Washington Monthly ranks colleges on the good they do: See how Ohio schools did," 30 Aug. 2017
However, this Canadian island that sits off the eastern coast of the country, flanking Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, sees a mere fraction of the visitors of British Columbia and Alberta.

— claire volkman, Vogue, "A Guide to Newfoundland: A Rugged, Remote Foodie Haven," 30 Aug. 2017
Davis will see even more action in the Chargers’ preseason finale Thursday as Los Angeles travels to take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.

— staff reports, Glendale News-Press, "Sports Briefs: Hoover football game cancelled," 29 Aug. 2017
In another photo, a young woman, appearing dazed and bleeding, is seen being carried into an ambulance.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "‘He just started unloading’: 2 dead, 4 injured in shooting at New Mexico library," 29 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'see.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of see

Middle English seen, from Old English sēon; akin to Old High German sehan to see and perhaps to Latin sequi to follow — more at sue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

see Synonyms

Synonyms

behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witness, get a load of [slang], lay eyes on, set eyes on

Antonyms

miss

Related Words

identify, make out, pick out, pick up; attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind; study, watch; examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey; glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)

Near Antonyms

disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over; miss, overlook

see

noun

Definition of see

1 a archaic :cathedra

b :a cathedral town

c :a seat of a bishop's office, power, or authority

2 :the authority or jurisdiction of a bishop

See see defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of see from the Web

The first game was a see-saw affair from beginning to end.

— rick armstrong, Naperville Sun, "Strong finish against Batavia bodes well for Gisela Bode, Waubonsie Valley," 29 Aug. 2017
Another of Vienna's must-sees isn't a single museum—

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Seven Must-See Museums in Austria," 14 Aug. 2017
She got rid of the straps, cut out the lining in the mid-section to create a see-through look, and created a custom lace neckpiece to complement the dress.

— tara massouleh, AL.com, "CMT reality star weds Birmingham native in Alabama wedding," 26 July 2017
The round of 64 sees Kesha’s loyal #Animals tribe up against 5 Seconds of Summer’s devoted #5SOSFAM in the Orange region of the bracket.

— sadie bell, Billboard, "Fan Army Face-Off: 5 Seconds of Summer's #5SOSFAM Battles Kesha's #Animals," 20 July 2017
Cara Delevingne also slayed—wearing a see-through metallic dress (casual) by Iris van Herpen.

— mehera bonner, Marie Claire, "Rihanna, Cara Delevingne, and Kendall Jenner Looked Straight-Up *Iconic* at the 'Valerian' Premiere," 18 July 2017
What viewers of the former see is a production of the latter — a mystery called The Murder at Haversham Manor.

— deroy murdock, National Review, "The Play That Goes Wrong," 13 July 2017
Long time no see: Cody Allen returned from the paternity list on Friday, as the Indians optioned right-hander Adam Plutko to Triple-A Columbus.

— zack meisel, cleveland.com, "Jose Ramirez only had one hit on Thursday, so he's out of Friday's lineup (that's not really the reason)," 23 June 2017
A softer policy stance is especially necessary in a month when demand for cash sees a seasonal surge in China...

— shen hong, WSJ, "China’s Central Bank Makes Largest Single-Day Cash Injection in Five Months," 16 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of see

Middle English se, from Anglo-French sé, see, from Latin sedes seat; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

See

play

biographical name \ ˈsē \

Definition of See

Thomas Jefferson Jackson 1866–1962 American astronomer and mathematician

SEE Defined for English Language Learners

see

play

verb

Definition of see for English Language Learners

: to notice or become aware of (someone or something) by using your eyes
: to have the ability to see : to have the power of sight
: to be or become aware of (something)

see

noun

Definition of see for English Language Learners

: the area in which a bishop has authority
: the authority or power of a bishop
: the office of a bishop

SEE Defined for Kids

see

play

verb \ ˈsē \

Definition of see for Students

saw \ˈsȯ\; seen \ˈsēn\; seeing

1 :to have the power of sight

The book is in braille for those who cannot see.

2 :to view with the eyes

Did you see me fall?

3 :to have experience of

This motel has seen better days.

4 :to understand the meaning or importance of

Do you see what I mean?

5 :to come to know :discover

He'll be angry when he sees what you've done.

6 :to call on :visit

He's going to see a friend.

7 :to form a mental picture of

I can still see your father when he was a boy.

8 :to imagine as a possibility

I can't see myself ever getting married.

9 :to make sure

See that the job gets done.

10 :to attend to

I'll see to your order at once.

11 :to meet with

The doctor will see you now.

12 :accompany 1, escort

I'll see you home.

see

noun

Definition of see for Students

1 :the city in which a bishop's church is located

2 :diocese

Medical Dictionary

see

play

verb \ ˈsē \

medical Definition of see

saw play \ˈsȯ\; seen play \ˈsēn\; seeing play \ˈsē-iŋ\

transitive verb

:to perceive by the eye

intransitive verb

1 :to have the power of sight

2 :to apprehend objects by sight

Learn More about see

See words that rhyme with see Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for see Spanish Central: Translation of see Nglish: Translation of see for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of see for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up see? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

see

Definition of see

seeable

From the M-W Editors

Examples of see in a Sentence

Recent Examples of see from the Web

Origin and Etymology of see

see Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

see

Definition of see

Recent Examples of see from the Web

Origin and Etymology of see

See

Definition of See

SEE Defined for English Language Learners

see

Definition of see for English Language Learners

see

Definition of see for English Language Learners

SEE Defined for Kids

see

Definition of see for Students

see

Definition of see for Students

Medical Dictionary

see

medical Definition of see

Learn More about see

Seen and Heard

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