see

1 of 2

verb

saw ˈsȯ How to pronounce see (audio) ; seen ˈsēn How to pronounce see (audio) ; seeing ˈsē-iŋ How to pronounce see (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to perceive by the eye
b
: to perceive or detect as if by sight
2
a
: to be aware of : recognize
sees only our faults
b
: to imagine as a possibility : suppose
couldn't see him as a crook
c
: to form a mental picture of : visualize
can still see her as she was years ago
d
: to perceive the meaning or importance of : understand
3
a
: to come to know : discover
b
: to be the setting or time of
The last fifty years have seen a sweeping revolution in science …Barry Commoner
c
: to have experience of : undergo
see army service
4
a
: examine, watch
want to see how she handles the problem
b(1)
: read
(2)
: to read of
c
: to attend as a spectator
see a play
5
a
: to make sure
See that order is kept.
b
: to take care of : provide for
had enough money to see us through
6
a
: to find acceptable or attractive
can't understand what he sees in her
b
: to regard as : judge
c
: to prefer to have
I'll see him hanged first.
I'll see you dead before I accept your terms.
7
a
: to call on : visit
b(1)
: to keep company with especially in courtship or dating
had been seeing each other for a year
(2)
: to grant an interview to : receive
The president will see you now.
8
: accompany, escort
See the guests to the door.
9
: to meet (a bet) in poker or to equal the bet of (a player) : call

intransitive verb

1
a
: to apprehend objects by sight
b
: to have the power of sight
c
: to perceive objects as if by sight
2
a
: to look about
b
: to give or pay attention
3
a
: to grasp something mentally
b
: to acknowledge or consider something being pointed out
See, I told you it would rain.
4
: to make investigation or inquiry
seeable adjective

see

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a seat of a bishop's office, power, or authority
b
: a cathedral town
c
archaic : cathedra
2
: the authority or jurisdiction of a bishop
Phrases
see after
: to attend to : care for
see eye to eye
: to have a common viewpoint : agree
see red
: to become very angry
see the light
: to discover or realize a usually obscured truth
see the light of day
: to become publicly known or available (as through publication)
manuscripts that will never see the light of day
see things see through
: to grasp the true nature of
saw through the scheme
see to
: to attend to : care for

Examples of see in a Sentence

Verb It was so dark that I couldn't see anything. I can't see a thing without my glasses. Would you turn on the light? I can hardly see a thing. Let me see what you're holding in your hand. I saw your sister at the party, but I didn't talk to her. I saw her take the money. Nobody saw the accident happen. He was last seen leaving his house yesterday morning. You have to see it to believe it. “He says he's coming.” “I'll believe it when I see it.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Drivers may see an increase in traffic on roads that can be used in place of the lateral. The Enquirer, 11 Mar. 2024 Kate is seen seated outside, surrounded by her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in the photo credited to the Prince of Wales. Thom Poole, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Gillespie appeared taken aback at seeing them, Wells recalled in an interview, then collected himself. Tom Jackman, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 The companies going public that year, pumped up by exuberance over the young internet, saw their share prices jump 71% on average during the first day of trading. The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 In another candid photo, she’s also seen sharing a sweet embrace with Banuelos, who matched her style in a denim shirt and black cowboy hat. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2024 The statement and subsequent absence of the Princess sparked a deluge of conspiracy theories online, bolstered by the fact that at the time of the announcement, she had already not been seen in public since Christmas eve. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 He was never seen in the neighborhood again despite being a fixture. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2024 The jury also saw bodycam video from the scene, taken shortly after the shooting, in which Gutierrez Reed appeared stunned and despondent. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
Noun
While Holy Basil’s items are familiar, with classics such as pad see ew, tom yum and gra pow, Arpapornnopparat’s style is his own, blending Thai, Indian and Chinese flavors and techniques into curries, stir fries and more. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 Filming what a 12-year-old sees sometimes means literally filming what a 12-year-old sees, which is why several crucial scenes were shot from the young protagonist’s eye level. EW.com, 15 Dec. 2023 Those with less than a high school diploma see levels increase from January to March, rising to around 4%. Brian Cheung, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2023 In New Jersey, guests can make their own paper lanterns at the crafts table and interact with dinosaur creations, while in both Queens, New York, and Atlanta, visitors will be able to see sugar paintings, a bounce house, light swings, see-saws, and tunnels. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2023 People are often appreciative when the see like likes of the Gripper Gang combing the streets. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 31 July 2023 The question, then, was put to Mario’s father: Which of Mario’s personality traits does the 70-year-old see in himself? Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023 Federal Reserve officials have been hiking interest rates aggressively in a bit to cool the job market and inflation more broadly but job vacancies have been see-sawing since last summer, with a slowdown one month followed by a pickup the next. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2023 Just off the route, on a road unofficially called Golden Street, is also Goldwell Open Air Museum, showcasing some truly unique and free-to-see artworks. Andrea Romano, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'see.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English seen, from Old English sēon; akin to Old High German sehan to see and perhaps to Latin sequi to follow — more at sue

Noun

Middle English se, from Anglo-French sé, see, from Latin sedes seat; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Time Traveler
The first known use of see was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near see

Cite this Entry

“See.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/see. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

see

1 of 2 verb
saw ˈsȯ How to pronounce see (audio) ; seen ˈsēn How to pronounce see (audio) ; seeing ˈsē-iŋ How to pronounce see (audio)
1
a
: to become aware of by means of the eyes or have the power of sight
see a bird
a person who cannot see
b
: to give or pay attention
see, the bus is coming
2
a
: to have experience of : undergo
had seen life on a farm
b
: to know or find out by investigation
see what's wrong with the car
c
: to acknowledge or consider something being pointed out
see, I told you it would rain
3
a
: to form a mental picture of : visualize
I can see it now in my mind
b
: to understand the meaning or importance of
I see what you mean
c
: to be aware of : recognize
sees only our faults
d
: to imagine as a possibility
couldn't see him as a crook
4
a
: to provide for
had enough money to see them through
b
: to make sure
see that the job gets done
5
a
: to call on : visit
see a sick friend
b
(1)
: to keep company with especially in courtship or dating
had been seeing each other for a year
(2)
: to grant an interview to : receive
the president will see you
6
: accompany sense 1, escort
I'll see you home

see

2 of 2 noun
1
: the city in which a bishop's church is located
2
: the area in which a bishop has authority : diocese

Medical Definition

see

verb
saw ˈsȯ How to pronounce see (audio) ; seen ˈsēn How to pronounce see (audio) ; seeing ˈsē-iŋ How to pronounce see (audio)

transitive verb

: to perceive by the eye

intransitive verb

1
: to have the power of sight
2
: to apprehend objects by sight

Biographical Definition

See

biographical name

Thomas Jefferson Jackson 1866–1962 American astronomer and mathematician

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