1
as in senses
to have a vague awareness of
I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in notices
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 understands
to have a clear idea of
I perceive your point, but I still disagree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of perceives
But come January, California — which perceives itself as oh-so-cutting edge on oh-so-many things — will install the 41st in the state’s unbroken line of male governors.
—
Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
If perceptions are central to the sense of self, that sense will look different depending on how each animal perceives the world.
—Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026
Has that prompted any soul searching for you about how the public perceives you?
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
The nervous system perceives and processes both stress and pain.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
The survey aimed to capture how the fanbase perceives the club and its interest in a rebrand, and wasn’t limited to just the crest.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
The Prince of Wales is said to be more involved in controlling the way the public perceives the monarchy.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2026
When the brain perceives threat or stress, a small structure called the amygdala activates the body’s alarm system.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
If perceptions are central to the sense of self, that sense will look different depending on how each animal perceives the world.
—Federica Sgorbissa, ArsTechnica, 24 May 2026
Has that prompted any soul searching for you about how the public perceives you?
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Some of Thomas’s critique appeared to be aimed at weak-willed conservatives, including his fellow-Justices, for being, as Thomas perceives it, too spineless to stand up for the ideals enshrined in the Declaration.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
The nervous system perceives and processes both stress and pain.
—Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
The survey aimed to capture how the fanbase perceives the club and its interest in a rebrand, and wasn’t limited to just the crest.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
The Prince of Wales is said to be more involved in controlling the way the public perceives the monarchy.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 Mar. 2026
When the brain perceives threat or stress, a small structure called the amygdala activates the body’s alarm system.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceives
Verb
-
Burn turns quickly on the ball, and Bruno Guimaraes senses an opportunity to drop for the pass in frame two.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
Mother senses that her children are imprisoned in an underground area and asks that they be set free.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In the clip, Pete runs up to the glass front door of Pooch Play and Stay and paces in front of the entry until a staffer notices him and lets him in, taking him back to the daycare area.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
-
Her smile in the fantasy is one of relief and clarity, which cuts so hard after watching the dread pile up before Leslie notices her.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Even now, the psychological moves of the book’s last moments, how and what Maeve understands, feel to me provisional, blurry, to be co-created with the reader.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
Ahamed really understands the American economy as part of a global economic system—something that a lot of other writers refuse to do.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The United States often feels more fractured than fraternal, a search for commonality hard to find in a land of boundaries drawn harder each day.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
-
Spielberg's vision is sentimental yet feels so satisfying.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
How Familiar handles privacy inside your home A robot that sees and hears what happens inside your home naturally raises privacy questions.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
-
However, her personable commanding officer Majid (Shafi al-Harthi) sees the value in her perspective when a high school student’s body turns up in the desert, and Nawal discerns clues from details which the policemen overlook, from the girl’s manicure to the embroidery on her abaya.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
But when things become too true to life, Fuqua knows to cut the style and let the actors carry the scene.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
-
Reduce Latency Anyone who has watched a big soccer match in a large office setting knows the pain of TVs not being in sync.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Here, Sourcing Journal hears insights on the subject from filmmakers Kirsten and Brandon Dickerson.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
-
That relief becomes tangible if a traveler hears about a delay early enough to rebook a connection or reroute ground transport before queues swell.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
In the Africa section, the zoo eyes a revamp of the hippo and crocodile habitats and at least one additional exhibit.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
-
The New York Knicks took a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday as the franchise eyes its first NBA Finals berth since 1999.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perceives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceives. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
