1
as in sensing
to have a vague awareness of
I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in noticing
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 knowing
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 perceiving
Reading, a way of perceiving ideas through the eyes of others, increases empathy and community, noted one professor.
—
Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
But that would depend on the animals perceiving the temperature shift—and having the capacity to do things differently.
—Elizabeth Preston, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The model is better than predecessors at creating spreadsheets, building presentations, perceiving images, writing code and understanding long context, OpenAI said.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Shifting gears, rather than perceiving AI as a competitor, budding therapists would be wise to perceive AI as a collaborator.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In 2024, Nepal ranked 107th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, with 84% of people perceiving government corruption to be a major problem.
—Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
Chronic pain usually results from your nervous system perceiving an area of instability in your body.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Gabby dislikes Sebastian, perceiving him as an entitled womanizer.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
This tricks our brains into perceiving the moon as bigger when near the horizon rather than high overhead — however, the moon of course exhibits the same angular size in both locations.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2026
But that would depend on the animals perceiving the temperature shift—and having the capacity to do things differently.
—Elizabeth Preston, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The model is better than predecessors at creating spreadsheets, building presentations, perceiving images, writing code and understanding long context, OpenAI said.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Shifting gears, rather than perceiving AI as a competitor, budding therapists would be wise to perceive AI as a collaborator.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In 2024, Nepal ranked 107th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, with 84% of people perceiving government corruption to be a major problem.
—Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
Chronic pain usually results from your nervous system perceiving an area of instability in your body.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Gabby dislikes Sebastian, perceiving him as an entitled womanizer.
—EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
This tricks our brains into perceiving the moon as bigger when near the horizon rather than high overhead — however, the moon of course exhibits the same angular size in both locations.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceiving
Verb
-
By embedding this sensing capability directly into a robot’s skin, this new system allows machines to respond locally and instantly to physical threats.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The horse, not sensing any guidance on its ribcage, begins to move skittishly in tight, concentric circles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tarzan This late-episode highlight just has a very funny conceit (Tarzan breaks up with Jane after noticing several red flags) paired with a host who has the benefit of having played this character before in a big-budget film.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Regulars started noticing that certain locations had quietly changed or removed their fries.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Couples should feel confident asserting their expectations, knowing the photographer will be their sole source of images from the ceremony.—
Nikita Khanna,
Vogue,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And just knowing if that is this team, we are built for the playoffs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Peskoe and others are watching court challenges to the DOE emergency orders closely, seeing if courts weigh in on this use of emergency powers to decide what kinds of energy should remain on the grid longer.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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Instead, even with its Gemini app now seeing more than 750 million monthly active users (MAUs), 100 million more than last quarter, and Gemini, the company's large language model, processing over 10 billion tokens per minute, Search usage broke a quarterly record.—
,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This – along with memorizing their individual preferences and an eye for spotting the next big thing in fashion – has cemented her name in a highly competitive industry.—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Located just off the coast of South Australia, Kangaroo Island is the country’s third-largest island, with diverse, wide-open landscapes and incredible wildlife spotting opportunities.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In school, Yoneifer was learning English fast, understanding basic expressions and responding in Spanish, his mom says.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The bottom line, though, is about understanding your teen and how this trend is affecting them, rather than fighting back against the trend for the sake of it.—
Jana Pollack,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Designers also recommend balancing florals with natural materials, such as wood cutting boards, stone countertops, or ceramic accessories, which ground the look and prevent it from feeling too sweet.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The waterproof design and textured soles help with stability on icy patches and wet pavement, while the chunky platform gives a subtle lift without feeling bulky.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Building and Inspections is now waiting for a report from the property owner’s structural engineer regarding the cause of the collapse.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
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For example, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan believed that men’s buying habits regarding underwear were a good indication of whether consumers were making fewer discretionary purchases.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perceiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceiving. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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