perceive

[ per-seev ]

See synonyms for: perceive perceived perceives perceiving on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),per·ceived, per·ceiv·ing.

to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses: I perceived an object looming through the mist.
to recognize, discern, envision, or understand: I perceive a note of sarcasm in your voice. This is a nice idea but I perceive difficulties in putting it into practice.

Origin of perceive

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English perceiven, from unattested Anglo-French perceivre, for perçoivre, from Latin percipere “to lay hold of, grasp,” equivalent to per- per- + -cipere, combining form of capere “to take”

synonym study For perceive

1. See notice.

Other words for perceive

1	note, discover, observe, descry, distinguish

See synonyms for perceive on Thesaurus.com

Other words from perceive

per·ceiv·er, noun
per·ceiv·ing·ness, noun
non·per·ceiv·ing, adjective
re·per·ceive, verb (used with object), re·per·ceived, re·per·ceiv·ing.
self-per·ceiv·ing, adjective
un·per·ceiv·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use perceive in a sentence

Other scientists are training bats in the lab to try to untangle how clearly they perceive shapes.
Here’s what bats ‘see’ when they explore the world with sound | Carolyn Wilke | October 29, 2020 | Science News For Students
Of course, the circumstances are anything but normal right now — in such a way that the election result could be perceived as surprising.
Is There A Chance The Winner In 2020 Will Be Able To Credibly Claim A Mandate? | Julia Azari | October 28, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
Cooter described her sources expressing heightened concern about the integrity of elections, compared to previous years, and a desire to combat the perceived risk of fraud.
Fear Of Voter Intimidation Is Its Own Voter Intimidation | Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com) | October 28, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
You can quibble about the exact number, or whether it’s sometimes worth going to failure on the last set, but whatever approach you choose, Halperin’s results suggest that relying on perceived effort will give you a consistent training load.
To Strength Train Right, Trust Your Feelings | Alex Hutchinson | October 27, 2020 | Outside Online
Note that Groups D and E share the same components but in different configurations, which goes to show that personal preferences and cultural backgrounds may cause one person to perceive the complexity of a dish very differently from another.
There’s a science to food pairing, and you can learn it here | Peter Coucquyt, Bernard Lahousse, and Johan Langenbick | October 22, 2020 | Popular-Science

I find it to be a very interesting concept—turning the weapons on who he perceives to be the perpetrators.
David Oyelowo on Playing Martin Luther King Jr., Ebola Fears, and Race in Hollywood | Marlow Stern | October 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It is how you perceive the world and how the world perceives you.
Divided in the Wake of Fort Hood | Thomas Gibbons-Neff | April 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“The world perceives cannabis consumers as deadhead, unemployed people—our mission is to change that,” says Defalco.
Ganjapreneurs Flock to Colorado Following Marijuana Legalization | Abby Haglage, Caitlin Dickson | January 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He perceives the sounds of evil intent where others detect only well-meaning (if possibly misguided) enthusiasm.
America’s Cassandra: David Mamet Speaks on the Lies of Obama and War | Lloyd Grove | November 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Perhaps the president is simply rewarding two men he perceives as having been loyal to him.
Vietnam, Once Again | Barron YoungSmith | January 9, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
I may add that in him one perceives greater talents than are commonly seen in the favourites of Princes.
The Story Of The Duchess Of Cicogne And Of Monsieur De Boulingrin | Anatole France
Caroline, after a week spent in taking note of her husband's absences, perceives that he passes seven hours a day away from her.
The Petty Troubles of Married Life, Complete | Honore de Balzac
Whereby Hotham perceives that it is as good to throw away the bellows, and consider the matter extinct.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VII. (of XXI.) | Thomas Carlyle
Life will begin when the world perceives its own weakness and the necessity for a different source of strength.
My Religion | Leo Tolstoy
The soul, without receiving anything, nevertheless perceives the things she does not have.
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 | Plotinos (Plotinus)

British Dictionary definitions for perceive

perceive

/ (pəˈsiːv) /

verb

to become aware of (something) through the senses, esp the sight; recognize or observe
(tr; may take a clause as object) to come to comprehend; grasp

Origin of perceive

C13: from Old French perçoivre, from Latin percipere seize entirely, from per- (thoroughly) + capere to grasp

Derived forms of perceive

perceivable, adjective
perceivability, noun
perceivably, adverb
perceiver, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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