see

¹ American  

[see] / si /

verb (used with object)

saw, seen, seeing

1. to perceive with the eyes; look at.

   Synonyms:

   regard, behold, discern, distinguish, notice, observe

2. to view; visit or attend as a spectator.

   to see a play.

3. to perceive by means of computer vision.

4. to scan or view, especially by electronic means.

   The satellite can see the entire southern half of the country.

5. to perceive (things) mentally; discern; understand.

   to see the point of an argument.

   Synonyms:

   comprehend, penetrate

6. to construct a mental image of; visualize.

   He still saw his father as he was 25 years ago.

7. to accept or imagine or suppose as acceptable.

   I can't see him as president.

8. to be cognizant of; recognize.

   to see the good in others;

   to see where the mistake is.

9. to foresee.

   He could see war ahead.

10. to ascertain, learn, or find out.

    See who is at the door.

    Synonyms:

    determine

11. to have knowledge or experience of.

    to see service in the foreign corps.

    Synonyms:

    undergo, know

12. to make sure.

    See that the work is done.

13. to meet and converse with.

    Are you seeing her at lunch today?

14. to receive as a visitor.

    The ambassador finally saw him.

15. to visit.

    He's gone to see his aunt.

16. to court, keep company with, or date frequently.

    They've been seeing each other for a long time.

17. to provide aid or assistance to; take care of.

    He's seeing his brother through college.

18. to attend or escort.

    to see someone home.

    Synonyms:

    escort, accompany

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. to read or read about.

    I saw it in the newspaper.

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verb (used without object)

saw, seen, seeing

1. to have the power of sight.

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

3. to understand intellectually or spiritually; have insight.

   Philosophy teaches us to see.

4. to give attention or care.

   See, there it goes.

5. to find out; make inquiry.

   Go and see for yourself.

6. to consider; think; deliberate.

   Let me see, how does that song go?

7. to look about; observe.

   They heard the noise and came out to see.

verb phrase

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 after to attend to; take care of.

   Will you please see after my plants while I'm away?

3. see to to take care of; be responsible for.

   I'll see to the theater tickets.

4. see out to remain with (a task, project, etc.) until its completion.

   We decided to see it out, even if it meant another year.

5. see about

   1. to investigate; inquire about.

   2. to turn one's attention to; take care of.

      He said he would see about getting the license plates.

6. see through

   1. to penetrate to the true nature of; comprehend; detect.

      He quickly saw through my story.

   2. to stay with to the end or until completion; persevere.

      to see a difficult situation through.

see ² American  

[see] / si /

noun

Ecclesiastical.

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

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see ¹ British  

/ siː /

verb

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

3. (tr) to perceive with any or all of the senses

   I hate to see you so unhappy

4. (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

5. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to ascertain or find out (a fact); learn

   see who is at the door

6. to make sure (of something) or take care (of something)

   see that he gets to bed early

7. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to consider, deliberate, or decide

   see if you can come next week

8. (tr) to have experience of; undergo

   he had seen much unhappiness in his life

9. (tr) to allow to be in a specified condition

   I cannot stand by and see a child in pain

10. (tr) to be characterized by

    this period of history has seen much unrest

11. (tr) to meet or pay a visit to

    to see one's solicitor

12. (tr) to receive, esp as a guest or visitor

    the Prime Minister will see the deputation now

13. (tr) to frequent the company of

    she is seeing a married man

14. (tr) to accompany or escort

    I saw her to the door

15. (tr) to refer to or look up

    for further information see the appendix

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

17. to the best of my judgment or understanding

18. (takes an infinitive) to consider proper, desirable, etc

    I don't see fit to allow her to come here

19. informal to refuse absolutely to do what one has been asked

20. informal to ensure fair treatment of (someone)

    if he has cheated you, I'll see you right

21. See light 1

22. an expression of farewell

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

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see ² British  

/ siː /

noun

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

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see Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing see

• I see
• I'll be seeing you
• 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
• let me see
• long time no see
• seen
• so I see
• wait and see

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Related Words

See watch.

Other Word Forms

• seeable
  adjective
• seeableness
  noun
• unseeable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of see¹

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

Origin of see²

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

Explanation

See is what your eyes do. However, this word has loads of meanings: you can see a shrink, which means you're consulting a psychiatrist; or you can be seeing your high school sweetheart, which means you're dating him. See usually means passively observing, while look, which is also something you do with your eyes, is more active and intentional. When someone says, "The president will see you now," the president is sitting there passively, waiting for you to be shown in. You can say "I see," to mean "I understand; I get it." Or you can look into your crystal ball and see into the future, in which case you'd be called a seer.

Example Sentences

However, others believe Micron is at the center of an AI-driven transformation that will see traditionally cyclical semiconductor names turn into high-growth business models.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

He would fly his team to dinner at the New York Yacht Club on off days and bring them to Newport to see him sail in America’s Cup.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“You see the same issue playing out at Laughlin along the Arizona border and Reno and Tahoe in Northern California.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

But it is hard not to step back from it and see something much simpler taking shape underneath all that ink.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

“It’s come so far already, so I don’t see why it can’t continue like this. Why hire an outsider to mess things up? You know what they say: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• catch
• determine
• discover
• feature
• feel
• follow
• get
• have
• hear
• know
• learn
• notice
• observe
• perceive
• realize
• recognize
• study
• suffer
• think
• understand