see

verb

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\ ˈsē

saw\ ˈsȯ

\; seen\ ˈsēn

\; seeing\ ˈsē-iŋ

Definition of see

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to perceive by the eye

b : to perceive or detect as if by sight

2a : to be aware of : recognize sees only our faults

b : to imagine as a possibility : suppose couldn't see him as a crook

c : to form a mental picture of : visualize can still see her as she was years ago

d : to perceive the meaning or importance of : understand

3a : to come to know : discover

b : to be the setting or time of The last fifty years have seen a sweeping revolution in science …— Barry Commoner

c : to have experience of : undergo see army service

4a : 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

5a : to make sure See that order is kept.

b : to take care of : provide for had enough money to see us through

6a : to find acceptable or attractive can't understand what he sees in her

b : to regard as : judge

c : to prefer to have I'll see him hanged first. I'll see you dead before I accept your terms.

7a : 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

1a : to apprehend objects by sight

b : to have the power of sight

c : to perceive objects as if by sight

2a : to look about

b : to give or pay attention

3a : 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

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

noun

Definition of see (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a seat of a bishop's office, power, or authority

b : a cathedral town

c archaic : cathedra

2 : the authority or jurisdiction of a bishop

Other Words from see Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing see Learn More About see

Examples of see in a Sentence

Verb 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.” See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb To see his horticultural handiwork up close, book a tour. — Sunset Magazine, 23 June 2022 Figuring out whether a baby was born alive is a complicated endeavor that experts say should involve a host of tests, including an examination of the lungs under a microscope to see if the air sacs are uniformly dilated. — Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 The state fair runs this year Aug. 18-28, and it's filled with plenty to see, eat and do. — Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 23 June 2022 To see Ben’s characteristic charm replaced by brooding self-seriousness in season 3 felt almost too tragic to bear. — Lauren Puckett-pope, ELLE, 23 June 2022 According to Hill, human anatomy varies from individual to individual, and actual human cadavers allow medical students to see this firsthand. — Monique Brouillette, Popular Mechanics, 23 June 2022 By the August primary and the November general election, there will be almost nothing of substance to see. — Sylvia Gurinsky, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2022 To see the statue, keep hiking as the trail heads into the Swamplovers Preserve and climbs a bluff. — Chelsey Lewis, Journal Sentinel, 23 June 2022 Last Friday, Steve and Sylvia went to see the band America at the Brown County Music Center in Nashville. — Kyle Neddenriep, The Indianapolis Star, 23 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun For certain locations, such as a pivotal yellow house the two first see in a painting, the artists took inspiration from the works of Frida Kahlo. — Wilson Chapman, Variety, 17 May 2022 The freezer is equipped with a see through drawer, which helps organize the space and a divider for the bottom part to keep things tidy. — Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 10 May 2022 The Veja factory’s fair wages, transparency, upcycling and customers’ ability to trace materials back to their source were also a draw for the see and be seen set. — Adam Chase, Outside Online, 30 Apr. 2021 Like the song’s multi-layered production and tempos, Meyers’ camerawork is eclectic, jumping from hyper-color to black and white, with excursions into outer space and psychedelic focus shifts that give the clip a see-sawing, trippy vibe. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 4 May 2022 And the cherry on top of the standout accessory is the see through-veil that takes the elegance to the next level. — Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 2 May 2022 On the first Saturday in May, spectators will flock to the see an elite group of jockeys and horses in the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby. — Charlotte Chilton, Town & Country, 10 Feb. 2022 Each year, a beloved, 46-year-old see-saw is brought out of storage at Middleburg Heights Community Church, 7265 Big Creek Parkway, and set up on the church lawn bordering Bagley Road. — Rich Heileman, cleveland, 25 Mar. 2022 The momentum was like a see-saw in the final frame. — Brooks Warren, baltimoresun.com, 4 Mar. 2022 See More

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.

History and Etymology for see

Verb

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

Noun

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

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Dictionary Entries Near see

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Last Updated

25 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“See.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/see. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.

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More Definitions for see

see

verb

\ ˈsē

saw\ ˈsȯ \; seen\ ˈsēn \; seeing

Kids Definition of see

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 sense 1, escort I'll see you home.

see

noun

Kids Definition of see (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2 : diocese

see

verb

\ ˈsē

saw\ ˈsȯ

\; seen\ ˈsēn

\; seeing\ ˈsē-iŋ

Medical Definition of see

transitive verb

: to perceive by the eye

intransitive verb

1 : to have the power of sight

2 : to apprehend objects by sight

See biographical name

\ ˈsē

Definition of See

Thomas Jefferson Jackson 1866–1962 American astronomer and mathematician

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see

Definition of see

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see

Definition of see

Other Words from see

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Examples of see in a Sentence

Phrases Containing see

First Known Use of see

History and Etymology for see

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The first known use of see was before the 12th century

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Medical Definition of see

Definition of See

WORD OF THE DAY

fulsome

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