see

1
[ see ]
See synonyms for: seesawseeingseen on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),saw, seen, see·ing.
  1. to perceive with the eyes; look at.

  2. to view; visit or attend as a spectator: to see a play.

  1. to perceive by means of computer vision.

  2. to scan or view, especially by electronic means: The satellite can see the entire southern half of the country.

  3. to perceive (things) mentally; discern; understand: to see the point of an argument.

  4. to construct a mental image of; visualize: He still saw his father as he was 25 years ago.

  5. to accept or imagine or suppose as acceptable: I can't see him as president.

  6. to be cognizant of; recognize: to see the good in others;to see where the mistake is.

  7. to foresee: He could see war ahead.

  8. to ascertain, learn, or find out: See who is at the door.

  9. to have knowledge or experience of: to see service in the foreign corps.

  10. to make sure: See that the work is done.

  11. to meet and converse with: Are you seeing her at lunch today?

  12. to receive as a visitor: The ambassador finally saw him.

  13. to visit: He's gone to see his aunt.

  14. to court, keep company with, or date frequently: They've been seeing each other for a long time.

  15. to provide aid or assistance to; take care of: He's seeing his brother through college.

  16. to attend or escort: to see someone home.

  17. Cards. to match (a bet) or match the bet of (a bettor) by staking an equal sum; call: I'll see your five and raise you five more.

  18. to prefer (someone or something) to be as indicated (usually used as a mild oath): I'll see you in hell before I sell you this house. He'll see the business fail before he admits he's wrong.

  19. to read or read about: I saw it in the newspaper.

verb (used without object),saw, seen, see·ing.
  1. to have the power of sight.

  2. to be capable of perceiving by means of computer vision.

  1. to understand intellectually or spiritually; have insight: Philosophy teaches us to see.

  2. to give attention or care: See, there it goes.

  3. to find out; make inquiry: Go and see for yourself.

  4. to consider; think; deliberate: Let me see, how does that song go?

  5. to look about; observe: They heard the noise and came out to see.

Verb Phrases
  1. see about,

    • to investigate; inquire about.

    • to turn one's attention to; take care of: He said he would see about getting the license plates.

  2. see after, to attend to; take care of: Will you please see after my plants while I'm away?

  1. see off, to take leave of someone setting out on a journey; accompany to the place of departure: I went to the airport to see them off.

  2. see out, to remain with (a task, project, etc.) until its completion: We decided to see it out, even if it meant another year.

  3. see through,

    • to penetrate to the true nature of; comprehend; detect: He quickly saw through my story.

    • to stay with to the end or until completion; persevere: to see a difficult situation through.

  4. see to, to take care of; be responsible for: I'll see to the theater tickets.

Origin of see

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English sen, seen, se, Old English sēon, sēan, sían; cognate with Dutch zien, German sehen, Old Norse sjā, Gothic saihwan

synonym study For see

1. See watch.

Other words for see

Other words from see

  • see·a·ble, adjective
  • see·a·ble·ness, noun
  • un·see·a·ble, adjective

Words Nearby see

Other definitions for see (2 of 2)

see2
[ see ]

nounEcclesiastical.
  1. the seat, center of authority, office, or jurisdiction of a bishop.

Origin of see

2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English se(e), sce, sse, from Old French sie,se, sce, from Latin sēdes “seat”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use see in a sentence

  • And to tell the truth, she couldn't help wishing he could see, so he could make the game livelier.

    The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
  • I waited three months more, in great impatience, then sent him back to the same post, to see if there might be a reply.

    The Boarded-Up House | Augusta Huiell Seaman
  • You see, I'd always thought of him as the boy whom Great-aunt Lucia described having seen.

    The Boarded-Up House | Augusta Huiell Seaman
  • He shrank, as from some one who inflicted pain as a child, unwittingly, to see what the effect would be.

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • On to Gaba Tepe just in time to see the opening, the climax and the end of the dreaded Turkish counter attack.

British Dictionary definitions for see (1 of 2)

see1

/ (siː) /


verbsees, seeing, saw or seen
  1. to perceive with the eyes

  2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to perceive (an idea) mentally; understand: I explained the problem but he could not see it

  1. (tr) to perceive with any or all of the senses: I hate to see you so unhappy

  2. (tr; may take a clause as object) to be aware of in advance; foresee: I can see what will happen if you don't help

  3. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to ascertain or find out (a fact); learn: see who is at the door

  4. (when tr, takes a clause as object; when intr, foll by to) to make sure (of something) or take care (of something): see that he gets to bed early

  5. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to consider, deliberate, or decide: see if you can come next week

  6. (tr) to have experience of; undergo: he had seen much unhappiness in his life

  7. (tr) to allow to be in a specified condition: I cannot stand by and see a child in pain

  8. (tr) to be characterized by: this period of history has seen much unrest

  9. (tr) to meet or pay a visit to: to see one's solicitor

  10. (tr) to receive, esp as a guest or visitor: the Prime Minister will see the deputation now

  11. (tr) to frequent the company of: she is seeing a married man

  12. (tr) to accompany or escort: I saw her to the door

  13. (tr) to refer to or look up: for further information see the appendix

  14. (in gambling, esp in poker) to match (another player's bet) or match the bet of (another player) by staking an equal sum

  15. as far as I can see to the best of my judgment or understanding

  16. see fit (takes an infinitive) to consider proper, desirable, etc: I don't see fit to allow her to come here

  17. see someone hanged first or see someone damned first informal to refuse absolutely to do what one has been asked

  18. see someone right British informal to ensure fair treatment of (someone): if he has cheated you, I'll see you right

  19. see the light or see the light of day See light 1 (def. 24)

  20. see you, see you later or be seeing you an expression of farewell

  21. you see informal a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis

Origin of see

1
Old English sēon; related to Old Norse sjā, Gothic saihwan, Old Saxon sehan

Derived forms of see

  • seeable, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for see (2 of 2)

see2

/ (siː) /


noun
  1. the diocese of a bishop, or the place within it where his cathedral or procathedral is situated: See also Holy See

Origin of see

2
C13: from Old French sed, from Latin sēdēs a seat; related to sedēre to sit

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with see

see

In addition to the idioms beginning with see

  • see about
  • see after
  • see a man about a dog
  • see beyond one's nose
  • see daylight
  • see double
  • see eye to eye
  • see fit
  • seeing is believing
  • seeing that
  • seeing things
  • see into
  • seen better days, have
  • seen one, seen them all
  • see one's way to
  • see out
  • see reason
  • see red
  • see someone off
  • see stars
  • see the back of
  • see the color of one's money
  • see the elephant
  • see the last of
  • see the light
  • see the light of day
  • see the sights
  • see things
  • see through
  • see through rose-colored glasses
  • see to
  • see with half an eye

also see:

  • as far as I can see
  • begin to see daylight
  • can't see beyond the end of one's nose
  • can't see the forest for the trees
  • I'll be seeing you
  • I see
  • let me see
  • long time no see
  • so I see
  • wait and see

Also see underseen.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.