see

1 of 2

verb

ˈsē 

saw ˈsȯ  ; seen ˈsēn  ; seeing ˈsē-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to perceive by the eye

b

: to perceive or detect as if by sight

2

a

: to be aware of : recognize

sees only our faults

b

: to imagine as a possibility : suppose

couldn't see him as a crook

c

: to form a mental picture of : visualize

can still see her as she was years ago

d

: to perceive the meaning or importance of : understand

3

a

: to come to know : discover

b

: to be the setting or time of

The last fifty years have seen a sweeping revolution in science …

—Barry Commoner

c

: to have experience of : undergo

see army service

4

a

: examine, watch

want to see how she handles the problem

b(1)

: read

(2)

: to read of

c

: to attend as a spectator

see a play

5

a

: to make sure

See that order is kept.

b

: to take care of : provide for

had enough money to see us through

6

a

: to find acceptable or attractive

can't understand what he sees in her

b

: to regard as : judge

c

: to prefer to have

I'll see him hanged first.

I'll see you dead before I accept your terms.

7

a

: to call on : visit

b(1)

: to keep company with especially in courtship or dating

had been seeing each other for a year

(2)

: to grant an interview to : receive

The president will see you now.

8

: accompany, escort

See the guests to the door.

9

: to meet (a bet) in poker or to equal the bet of (a player) : call

intransitive verb

1

a

: to apprehend objects by sight

b

: to have the power of sight

c

: to perceive objects as if by sight

2

a

: to look about

b

: to give or pay attention

3

a

: to grasp something mentally

b

: to acknowledge or consider something being pointed out

See, I told you it would rain.

4

: to make investigation or inquiry

seeable

ˈsē-ə-bəl 

adjective

see

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a seat of a bishop's office, power, or authority

b

: a cathedral town

c

archaic : cathedra

2

: the authority or jurisdiction of a bishop

Phrases

see after

: to attend to : care for

see eye to eye

: to have a common viewpoint : agree

see red

: to become very angry

see the light

: to discover or realize a usually obscured truth

see the light of day

: to become publicly known or available (as through publication)

manuscripts that will never see the light of day

see things

: hallucinate

see through

: to grasp the true nature of

saw through the scheme

see to

: to attend to : care for

Synonyms

Verb

• behold
• catch
• descry
• discern
• distinguish
• espy
• eye
• look (at)
• note
• notice
• observe
• perceive
• regard
• remark
• sight
• spot
• spy
• view
• witness

Examples of see in a Sentence

Verb

It was so dark that I couldn't see anything.

I can't see a thing without my glasses.

Would you turn on the light? I can hardly see a thing.

Let me see what you're holding in your hand.

I saw your sister at the party, but I didn't talk to her.

I saw her take the money.

Nobody saw the accident happen.

He was last seen leaving his house yesterday morning.

You have to see it to believe it.

“He says he's coming.” “I'll believe it when I see it.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Southern Baptist churches lost more than a quarter-million members nationwide in 2024, the 18th straight year of decline, but saw baptism and attendance numbers rise. —Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 10 May 2025

Back to battle once again for their lives and a giant cash prize, the wordless preview sees contestants facing a series of high-stakes situations, involving guns, fists and an ominous giant gumball machine. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 May 2025

Noun

First shown in Bridgehampton during New York Fashion Week in September 2024, the fashion show in Shanghai will involve the World of Ralph Lauren through a see now, buy now experience. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025

Other dishes include classics like pad Thai, drunken noodles, pad see ew, several curries, khao soi, tom kha and larb. —Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English seen, from Old English sēon; akin to Old High German sehan to see and perhaps to Latin sequi to follow — more at sue

Noun

Middle English se, from Anglo-French sé, see, from Latin sedes seat; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Phrases Containing see

• as far as the eye can see
• a sight to see/behold
• as/so far as one can see/tell/judge
• fail to see/understand
• I'd (just) like to see him try
• (I'll/we'll) see you around
• let me see
• let's see
• live to see the day
• long time no see
• look-see
• must-see
• no-see-um
• not see the forest for the trees
• not see the wood for the trees
• not see why not
• re-see
• see about
• see action
• see and be seen
• see around/round
• see daylight
• see dollar signs
• see double
• see here
• see if I care
• see off
• see oneself out
• see one's way (clear) to
• see out
• see over
• see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
• see sense
• see (someone) around
• see (something) in (something or someone)
• see stars
• see the back of
• see the day
• see the last of (someone or something)
• see the new year in
• see/think fit
• see to it
• see/travel the world
• see you (around/later)
• show/see (someone) to the door
• so I see
• suck it and see
• we'll see
• we'll (soon) see about that
• what/who should someone see but

Rhymes for see

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

see

1 of 2 verb

ˈsē 

saw ˈsȯ  ; seen ˈsēn  ; seeing ˈsē-iŋ 

1

a

: to become aware of by means of the eyes or have the power of sight

see a bird

a person who cannot see

b

: to give or pay attention

see, the bus is coming

2

a

: to have experience of : undergo

had seen life on a farm

b

: to know or find out by investigation

see what's wrong with the car

c

: to acknowledge or consider something being pointed out

see, I told you it would rain

3

a

: to form a mental picture of : visualize

I can see it now in my mind

b

: to understand the meaning or importance of

I see what you mean

c

: to be aware of : recognize

sees only our faults

d

: to imagine as a possibility

couldn't see him as a crook

4

a

: to provide for

had enough money to see them through

b

: to make sure

see that the job gets done

5

a

: to call on : visit

see a sick friend

b

(1)

: to keep company with especially in courtship or dating

had been seeing each other for a year

(2)

: to grant an interview to : receive

the president will see you

6

: accompany sense 1, escort

I'll see you home

see

2 of 2 noun

1

: the city in which a bishop's church is located

2

: the area in which a bishop has authority : diocese

Medical Definition

see

verb

ˈsē 

saw ˈsȯ  ; seen ˈsēn  ; seeing ˈsē-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to perceive by the eye

intransitive verb

1

: to have the power of sight

2

: to apprehend objects by sight

Biographical Definition

See

biographical name

ˈsē 

Thomas Jefferson Jackson 1866–1962 American astronomer and mathematician