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
The outcome of future conflicts will hinge on accurately perceiving reality amidst GPS denial and growing electronic illusions.
—
Zita Ballinger Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Sam always found this really interesting line of being very truthful of what is going on behind closed doors in a generation, but then also pushing the boundaries on how people are used to perceiving or digesting certain topics.
—
Daniel D'addario,
Variety,
10 June 2026
In 2020, Samir Nurmohamed, now an assistant professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania, published a paper that showed evidence that perceiving yourself as an underdog can lead to higher motivation and better performance at work.
—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
And there is the feeling of each character’s eyes taking in the viewer, creating a question of who is perceiving who.
—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Abraham Lincoln was wary of the doctrine, perceiving that any such notion of divine inevitability could be used to justify land grabs and war.
—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Kepler devoted much of his career to figuring out optics, and was arguably the first scientific thinker to articulate the difference between seeing and perceiving.
—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
The goal is to break the mental shorthand that keeps most of us from actually perceiving what's around us.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
The newly-sighted get better at perceiving differences in color, shape, and size — even if they were treated for their congenital cataracts after years of blindness—but not so much at spotting differences in shading or contours.
—
Sachin Rawat,
Big Think,
2 Mar. 2026
Zita Ballinger Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Sam always found this really interesting line of being very truthful of what is going on behind closed doors in a generation, but then also pushing the boundaries on how people are used to perceiving or digesting certain topics.
—
Daniel D'addario,
Variety,
10 June 2026
In 2020, Samir Nurmohamed, now an assistant professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania, published a paper that showed evidence that perceiving yourself as an underdog can lead to higher motivation and better performance at work.
—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
And there is the feeling of each character’s eyes taking in the viewer, creating a question of who is perceiving who.
—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
24 May 2026
Abraham Lincoln was wary of the doctrine, perceiving that any such notion of divine inevitability could be used to justify land grabs and war.
—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Kepler devoted much of his career to figuring out optics, and was arguably the first scientific thinker to articulate the difference between seeing and perceiving.
—
Rebecca Boyle,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
The goal is to break the mental shorthand that keeps most of us from actually perceiving what's around us.
—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
The newly-sighted get better at perceiving differences in color, shape, and size — even if they were treated for their congenital cataracts after years of blindness—but not so much at spotting differences in shading or contours.
—
Sachin Rawat,
Big Think,
2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceiving
Verb
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The rash was much milder in mice bred with defective itch-sensing nerve cells.
-
From threat detection to global navigation, sensing biomarkers to computing at unimaginable speeds, the quantum era holds the promise that our world will not look the same anymore.
Verb
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By midsummer, many homeowners begin noticing plants popping up where their lawns have thinned.
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The Property Brothers star, 48, got candid about previously letting his work bleed too much into his home life, to the point where his 4-year-old son, Parker, started noticing.
Verb
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Mabinty was remembered as a beautiful soul whose kindness, love, and hardworking spirit touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
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Searching for Sanchez-Munoz Despite police knowing a suspect’s identity so early, Sanchez-Munoz — who was considered armed and dangerous — was still not in custody Wednesday.
Verb
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The journey in seeing a friend’s city anew becomes another way of seeing home.
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On June 9, witnesses reported seeing a man start a small brush fire in a field behind the Wal-Mart on Camino Arroyo, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Verb
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On Wednesday, officers arrested the suspect after spotting him in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, according to the police statement.
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The lower the number, the brighter the object, with the human eye capable of spotting targets down to a magnitude of +6 from a dark sky location.
Verb
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Other messages described starvation, brutal military drills, constant drone attacks and recruits being punished for not understanding Russian commands.
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The two sides have 60 days from their signing of the memorandum of understanding this month to work out details.
Verb
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Persistent fatigue despite adequate sleep, dizziness, breathlessness, brain fog, low mood, brittle nails, hair fall, feeling unusually cold, and changes in skin quality all signal low ferritin levels.
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In India, feeling that one's work improves others' lives carries more weight than in most countries.
Verb
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Ultimately, healthcare faces crucial decisions regarding computing power, which is becoming as vital as electricity for modern medicine.
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On Monday, hundreds of Texans spoke during public comment regarding the new curriculum.
Cite this Entry
“Perceiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceiving. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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