seer
1 Americannoun
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a person who sees; observer.
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a person who prophesies future events; prophet.
Industry seers predicted higher profits.
- Synonyms:
- augur, soothsayer, oracle
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a person endowed with profound moral and spiritual insight or knowledge; a wise person or sage who possesses intuitive powers.
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a person who is reputed to have special powers of divination, as a crystal gazer or palmist.
noun
noun
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a person who can supposedly see into the future; prophet
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a person who professes supernatural powers
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a person who sees
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of seer1
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at see 1, -er 1
Origin of seer2
First recorded in 1610–20
Explanation
A seer is someone who can see the future. Nostradamus is considered a seer because he predicted everything from the Great Fire of London to the French Revolution. Oh, and the end of the world. See the word see in seer? Seers can see into the future. Prophets, fortune tellers, and tarot card readers are seers. Seers are part of many fictional stories, especially fantasy stories that might include witches and goblins. However, this word can be used for anyone who is good at predicting things, such as a political, financial, or sports analyst. Seers are also called oracles and visionaries. As for Nostradamus, let’s hope he was wrong sometimes.
Vocabulary lists containing seer
"The People Could Fly" by Virginia Hamilton
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"The Iliad" by Homer, Book 1
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The Storm Runner
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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.
As these tone-deaf lines indicate, Flanner was a gifted writer but not a political seer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026
Not content with jinxing the Dodgers by predicting a potential “120-win season,” local sports seer Bill Plaschke now projects the Rams to be in the Super Bowl.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2025
A late twist this year saw Francesca become "the seer", a power that enabled her to find out the true status of one other contestant.
From BBC • Jan. 24, 2025
When another seer struck a tone of reconciliation, saying that the temple dispute was now in the past and that Muslims and Hindus should work on “brotherhood,” Mr. Chavhanke interrupted him.
From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2024
“I am a seer of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” replied Madam Lucille spookily.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
