1
as in to feel
to have a vague awareness of
I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
perceived that it was going to be a nice day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
I perceive your point, but I still disagree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perceive
This involves some combination of being awake and aware, having internal awareness (such as mental imagery and inner thoughts), and being connected to the world with an ability to perceive stimuli.
—
Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
Native color sensing changes how machines perceive their surroundings by combining geometric structure with visual context.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
The moment one starts perceiving what Arnold and friends undergo as excessively dismal, a quick peak at the live-action cruelty in action around the globe tempers that notion.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 May 2026
Quarterback Russell Wilson ended up throwing an interception on that play, which immediately was perceived as one of the worst play calls of all time.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
Native color sensing changes how machines perceive their surroundings by combining geometric structure with visual context.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
The moment one starts perceiving what Arnold and friends undergo as excessively dismal, a quick peak at the live-action cruelty in action around the globe tempers that notion.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 May 2026
Quarterback Russell Wilson ended up throwing an interception on that play, which immediately was perceived as one of the worst play calls of all time.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceive
Verb
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The game itself could barely have felt less consequential in its vibe if it had been played in the first week of June in front of 60,000 neutrals in Manchester United shirts in an overseas stadium.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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Welina Terrace, which is only open for dinner, feels a bit fancier; low-lit with live music and epic views of the bay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In an inversion of the more common critical reception of an emerging artist, this new writer’s poetry was often noticed but seldom admired, notwithstanding the Daily Mirror’s snide enthusiasm.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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The biggest change many Coloradans will notice is the temperature.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Constant said families should be able to look several years ahead and understand whether their children are likely to have transfer opportunities available.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
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Van de Peer and his colleagues wanted to understand what accounts for the abundance of modern polyploidy and the seeming relative scarcity of it long ago.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Perhaps sensing this, the league trotted out a series of onstage stimuli between picks.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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As the atoms themselves act as the sensing medium, the same receiver can theoretically operate across an enormous frequency range—from hertz to terahertz—without needing multiple antenna systems.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Fox joined a Spurs team that had Paul start all 82 games last season, watched the Spurs replace Paul with second-overall draft pick Dylan Harper and then saw Stephon Castle build on his Rookie of the Year campaign by leading San Antonio in touches and assists.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Some saw the chance to steer Cuba to a model like Vietnam, where communist rule coexisted with a thriving economy.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Did either network know Krakowski was double dipping?—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Sark knows the Texas football team isn't there for academics, or at least, the starters.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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His home office is a narrow two-bedroom near an asphalt processing plant and a superfund site, both of which can be smelled with the windows open on a warm day.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Shelves lined with baking ingredients, bolts of fabric, tinware, nails, and jars of penny candy created a patchwork of textures and smells ranging from molasses and leather to spices and tobacco smoke.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
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In other offensive line news, Michael Jerrell was working at first-team right tackle Tuesday, with Jawaan Taylor and Storm Norton not spotted on the field at the time.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Bacha spotted a leg and began to clear the rubble around it, revealing the body of a small girl.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceive. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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