perceive
Americanverb (used with object)
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perceives,
present (3rd person singular)
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perceived,
past participle, past
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perceiving
present participle
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to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses.
I perceived an object looming through the mist.
- Synonyms:
- distinguish, descry, observe, discover, note
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to recognize, discern, envision, or understand: This is a nice idea but I perceive difficulties in putting it into practice.
I perceive a note of sarcasm in your voice.
This is a nice idea but I perceive difficulties in putting it into practice.
verb
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to become aware of (something) through the senses, esp the sight; recognize or observe
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to come to comprehend; grasp
Synonym Usage
See notice.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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perceivabilitynoun
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perceivernoun
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perceivingnessnoun
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reperceiveverb (used with object)
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nonperceivingadjective
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perceivableadjective
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self-perceivingadjective
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unperceivingadjective
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perceivablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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perceivesimple
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perceivessimple
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have perceivedperfect
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has perceivedperfect
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am perceivingprogressive
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are perceivingprogressive
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is perceivingprogressive
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have been perceivingperfect progressive
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has been perceivingperfect progressive
Past
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perceivedsimple
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had perceivedperfect
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was perceivingprogressive
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were perceivingprogressive
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had been perceivingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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”
Explanation
When we perceive something, we become aware of or notice it. Sometimes we perceive things by using our senses of sight, hearing, and smell. Or we can use our mind to perceive things, which means that we are able to recognize or understand them. We can also perceive a person or thing as having certain qualities: Do you perceive yourself as a good student? The Latin root percipere means "to receive, understand," from the prefix per- "thoroughly" plus capere "to seize, take."
Vocabulary lists containing perceive
List 1
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Metamorphosis
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Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But civil society and women's rights groups have denounced what they perceive as the government's delay in turning the bill into law.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
First we perceive something, then we think about it and make a choice, and finally we act.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
If your co-workers would like to paint the reality which they presumably opted into as unfair, that is a reflection on how they perceive themselves, not you.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
He declined to say how China or North Korea may perceive the mass exercise featuring more than 500 maritime events and 2,400 air missions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
So well did I act my part that even my father, despite being schooled in deceit, did not perceive my mask.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Now, though, he perceives bitcoin is “potentially on the verge of breaking out of this range to the upside and breaking the bear trend.”
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 16, 2026
Scotland's relationship with England, and how England perceives that relationship, has layers to it.
From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026
His novel “Caleb Williams” introduces an embattled young hero, born poor and largely self-educated, who perceives justice in exalted terms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
In a 56-page opinion, US District Judge Beryl Howell wrote that the president has "broad statutory authority" to address "a problem he perceives to be a matter of economic and national security."
From Barron's ● Dec. 24, 2025
She loves that she thinks she’s in control of my involvement with Jeremy, and she’ll actually have it out with Lauren if she perceives interference.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
It is probably no coincidence that the rise of the current AI excitement coincided with a more inward-looking technorati spurning major institutions—whether that be government, regulators, media or any group perceived as slowing their innovation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
For now, the strategists say the “summer consensus” that dictates buying assets that are perceived as riskier, such as stocks, is still in place.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
Some elements of the US press also criticised what they perceived as an endless desire for publicity – either in her messaging promoting peace or critiquing the art establishment.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
It would center the woman, not just her baby, and recognize the perceived benefit she is weighing against the risks.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026
A music came down the river as it drew nearer; and suddenly they perceived that it was a ship, wrought and carved with elven-skill in the likeness of a bird.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
No damning life event preceded my change in style, though I’d recently stopped dating and found some strange joy in perceiving bangs as another barrier-to-entry to anyone who tried.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
In under half a minute, the state’s theory asserts, Byrd and Roberts went from perceiving a genuine threat and returning fire to pursuing someone who no longer posed a danger.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
"As adults, we overthink: 'How am I coming across? How's everyone perceiving me?'," she says.
From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026
Finding their conversations therapeutic—and perceiving a dearth of literature on mistakes—they have written “From Mistakes to Meaning.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
“But surely,” said she, “I may enter his county with impunity, and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me.”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
