see

¹

[ see ]

verb (used with object)

, saw, seen, see·ing.

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: penetrate, comprehend

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.

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.
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. to remain with (a task, project, etc.) until its completion:

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

2. 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.

3. to attend to; take care of:

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

4. 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.

5. to take care of; be responsible for:

   I'll see to the theater tickets.

6. 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.

see

²

[ see ]

noun

, Ecclesiastical.

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

see

¹

/ 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. whentr, 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

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. as far as I can see
    as far as I can see to the best of my judgment or understanding
18. see fit
    see fit takes an infinitive to consider proper, desirable, etc

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

19. see someone hanged first informal.
    see someone hanged firstsee someone damned first to refuse absolutely to do what one has been asked
20. see someone right informal.
    see someone right to ensure fair treatment of (someone)

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

21. See light
    see the light
    see the lightsee the light of day See light 1
22. see you
    see yousee you laterbe seeing you an expression of farewell
23. you see informal.
    you see a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis

see

²

/ siː /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˈseeable, adjective

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of see¹

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

Origin of see²

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

Idioms and Phrases

• 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
• seen

Synonym Study

See watch.

Example Sentences

We see detoxing as a path to transcendence, a symbol of modern urban virtue and self-transformation through abstinence.

From The Daily Beast

Harris is unlikely to see a challenge from Villaraigosa, either.

From The Daily Beast

We do see that a few European countries have them on the books: Germany, Poland, Italy, Ireland, a couple more.

From The Daily Beast

Several times, either because they forgot or they had a technical problem, they connected directly, and we could see them.

From The Daily Beast

That would truly be a milestone to celebrate—until you see what that record “diversity” actually means.

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

I waited three months more, in great impatience, then sent him back to the same post, to see if there might be a reply.

From Project Gutenberg

You see, I'd always thought of him as the boy whom Great-aunt Lucia described having seen.

From Project Gutenberg

He shrank, as from some one who inflicted pain as a child, unwittingly, to see what the effect would be.

From Project Gutenberg

On to Gaba Tepe just in time to see the opening, the climax and the end of the dreaded Turkish counter attack.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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