1
a
: to perceive by the eye
b
: to perceive or detect as if by sight
2
a
: 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
3
4
5
a
: to make sure
See that order is kept.
b
: to take care of : provide for
had enough money to see us through
6
a
: 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.
7
9
: to meet (a bet) in poker or to equal the bet of (a player) : call
1
a
: to apprehend objects by sight
b
: to have the power of sight
c
: to perceive objects as if by sight
2
a
: to look about
b
: to give or pay attention
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
1
2
: the authority or jurisdiction of a bishop
Synonyms
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.”
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Recent Examples on the Web
Megan Poinski, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Economists expect to see signs of softening inflation.
—WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023
But the material, rarely seen in cars, can be both finicky and expensive.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
Lennox immediately stops the show, as seen in a video shared by TMZ, demanding to know who the perpetrator is.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023
The lawsuit also says that on the day of the attack, teachers saw the assailant bullying the victim but didn’t intervene.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023
Hall’s team claims that Oates’ team let Primary Wave see the duo’s joint business agreement, which was to have remained confidential.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Prosecutors said Dean did not see Jefferson’s gun and did not announce himself as a police officer before shooting her.
—Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
Footage taken during the concert shows Swift had paused the performance to indicate fans who needed water in the audience and at one point could be seen throwing water into the crowd.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2023
Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
People are often appreciative when the see like likes of the Gripper Gang combing the streets.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 31 July 2023
The question, then, was put to Mario’s father: Which of Mario’s personality traits does the 70-year-old see in himself?
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
Federal Reserve officials have been hiking interest rates aggressively in a bit to cool the job market and inflation more broadly but job vacancies have been see-sawing since last summer, with a slowdown one month followed by a pickup the next.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2023
Just off the route, on a road unofficially called Golden Street, is also Goldwell Open Air Museum, showcasing some truly unique and free-to-see artworks.
—Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023
The game see-sawed most of the fourth quarter before a Ding 3-pointer put Pinewood in control.
—Mitch Stephens, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Feb. 2023
The paralyzed walk, the blind see, those with dementia regain their faculties.
—Wired, WIRED, 10 Feb. 2023
In summer 2020, the house announced a gradual pivot to its see now, buy now format.
—Stephanie Hirschmiller, ELLE, 30 Jan. 2023
See More
Verb
The most obvious lesson at the moment is that Altman is an extremely powerful person in the tech world, and certainly more than a few influential people see him as the central figure in generative AI development.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Economists expect to see signs of softening inflation.
—WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023
But the material, rarely seen in cars, can be both finicky and expensive.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023
Lennox immediately stops the show, as seen in a video shared by TMZ, demanding to know who the perpetrator is.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2023
The lawsuit also says that on the day of the attack, teachers saw the assailant bullying the victim but didn’t intervene.
—Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2023
Hall’s team claims that Oates’ team let Primary Wave see the duo’s joint business agreement, which was to have remained confidential.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Prosecutors said Dean did not see Jefferson’s gun and did not announce himself as a police officer before shooting her.
—Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
Footage taken during the concert shows Swift had paused the performance to indicate fans who needed water in the audience and at one point could be seen throwing water into the crowd.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2023
Noun
In New Jersey, guests can make their own paper lanterns at the crafts table and interact with dinosaur creations, while in both Queens, New York, and Atlanta, visitors will be able to see sugar paintings, a bounce house, light swings, see-saws, and tunnels.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023
People are often appreciative when the see like likes of the Gripper Gang combing the streets.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 31 July 2023
The question, then, was put to Mario’s father: Which of Mario’s personality traits does the 70-year-old see in himself?
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
Federal Reserve officials have been hiking interest rates aggressively in a bit to cool the job market and inflation more broadly but job vacancies have been see-sawing since last summer, with a slowdown one month followed by a pickup the next.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2023
Just off the route, on a road unofficially called Golden Street, is also Goldwell Open Air Museum, showcasing some truly unique and free-to-see artworks.
—Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023
The game see-sawed most of the fourth quarter before a Ding 3-pointer put Pinewood in control.
—Mitch Stephens, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Feb. 2023
The paralyzed walk, the blind see, those with dementia regain their faculties.
—Wired, WIRED, 10 Feb. 2023
In summer 2020, the house announced a gradual pivot to its see now, buy now format.
—Stephanie Hirschmiller, ELLE, 30 Jan. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'see.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
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
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c
Time Traveler
The first known use of see was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing see
Dictionary Entries Near see
Cite this Entry
“See.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/see. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
see
1 of 2 verb1
a
: to become aware of by means of the eyes or have the power of sight
see a bird
a person who cannot see
b
: to give or pay attention
see, the bus is coming
2
a
: to have experience of : undergo
had seen life on a farm
b
: to know or find out by investigation
see what's wrong with the car
c
: to acknowledge or consider something being pointed out
see, I told you it would rain
3
4
a
: to provide for
had enough money to see them through
b
: to make sure
see that the job gets done
5
6
: accompany sense 1, escort
I'll see you home
see
2 of 2 noun1
: the city in which a bishop's church is located
2
: the area in which a bishop has authority : diocese
Medical Definition
see
verb
: to perceive by the eye
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on see
Nglish: Translation of see for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of see for Arabic Speakers
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