as in spotting
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
the crew felt a rush of excitement upon hearing that the lookout had sighted land
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Recent Examples of sighting
Even slight pollution or habitat changes can threaten them — a detail that makes every confirmed sighting significant for conservation science.
—
Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
In addition to the occasional energy vortex, Sedona is said to be a UFO sighting hot spot.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
The equipment allowed the researchers to pinpoint the area emitting the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale's unique call without first sighting the animals, which are among the deepest-diving mammals in the world.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Parks closed, troops deployed for bears In Sapporo City, authorities closed Maruyama Park for two weeks following a bear sighting there.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
His call to the Coast Guard upon sighting Humphrey resulted in a comical conversation.
—Helen Harlan, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
One of the six runways at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was closed for about 45 minutes early Saturday afternoon after reports of a drone sighting around noon (1000 GMT), military police spokesman Doron Wallin told The Associated Press.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
Pasquatch sighting in Cleveland!
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
From locations that are plagued by light pollution, sighting this comet may prove to be rather difficult.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
In addition to the occasional energy vortex, Sedona is said to be a UFO sighting hot spot.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026
The equipment allowed the researchers to pinpoint the area emitting the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale's unique call without first sighting the animals, which are among the deepest-diving mammals in the world.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Parks closed, troops deployed for bears In Sapporo City, authorities closed Maruyama Park for two weeks following a bear sighting there.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
His call to the Coast Guard upon sighting Humphrey resulted in a comical conversation.
—Helen Harlan, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025
One of the six runways at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was closed for about 45 minutes early Saturday afternoon after reports of a drone sighting around noon (1000 GMT), military police spokesman Doron Wallin told The Associated Press.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
Pasquatch sighting in Cleveland!
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
From locations that are plagued by light pollution, sighting this comet may prove to be rather difficult.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighting
Verb
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New Jersey continued the good relations by spotting the B’s the first four goals of the game in the first period.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
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Nothing can be more startling than spotting a bear on a hiking trail or worse – in your neighborhood.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After noticing a problem, keepers separated the mother from her newborn, who weighed just 443 grams (less than a pound) and required immediate placement in an incubator at CIMBA to stabilize his temperature and safeguard his health, Reynoso Ruiz said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
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The days of people noticing pregnant women on the subway are largely over.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Public school districts in Texas are almost one school year into the first statewide cellphone ban, and a North Texas school district is seeing positive impacts.—
Lacey Beasley,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Why more Sacramento residents are seeking evaluation As public awareness changes, individuals who were formerly written off as chaotic, fragile, strange or unstable are now seeing those outdated stories from a contemporary perspective.—
Malana VanTyler,
Sacbee.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Police have not confirmed any details regarding the incident at this time.—
Naomi Ruchim,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The team hopes the aircraft, beyond providing insight into wartime aviation, will impart wisdom regarding the real consequences of war during this time of global unrest.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sighting. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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