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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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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Nineteenth-century Americans did not simply notice hair’s unusual properties.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
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Build space into your schedule to notice these things.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni told reporters after the match, which finished 1-1, that Messi preferred to come off rather than see Scaloni take off young playmaker Thiago Almada.—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
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Other parents witnessed the March on Washington, whereas my father saw Jackie Robinson don Dodger blue at Ebbets Field.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
Verb
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The unreleased feature has been spotted in a beta version of Android 16 Tired of super-bright HDR videos and photos popping up in your social feeds?—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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An invasive creature native to South America has been spotted at a Northern California park, prompting a search, rangers reported.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
8 June 2025
Verb
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More Getty Images Now, with the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont upon us, one of the toughest courses that's freaking out professionals, Thomas is eyeing his new goal.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
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Trump may already be eyeing a replacement for the chair of the Fed.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Espy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espy. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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