- to perceive with the eyes
- (when tr, may take a clause as object) to perceive (an idea) mentally; understand: I explained the problem but he could not see it
- (transitive) to perceive with any or all of the senses: I hate to see you so unhappy
- (transitive; may take a clause as object) to be aware of in advance; foresee: I can see what will happen if you don't help
- (when tr, may take a clause as object) to ascertain or find out (a fact); learn: see who is at the door
- when tr, takes a clause as object; when intr, followed by to: to make sure (of something) or take care (of something): see that she gets to bed early
- (when tr, may take a clause as object) to consider, deliberate, or decide: see if you can come next week
- (transitive) to have experience of; undergo: he had seen much unhappiness in his life
- (transitive) to allow to be in a specified condition: I cannot stand by and see a child in pain
- (transitive) to be characterized by: this period of history has seen much unrest
- (transitive) to meet or pay a visit to: to see one's solicitor
- (transitive) to receive, esp as a guest or visitor: the Prime Minister will see the deputation now
- (transitive) to frequent the company of: they have been seeing each other for three months
- (transitive) to accompany or escort: I saw her to the door
- (transitive) to refer to or look up: for further information, see the appendix
- (in gambling, esp in poker) to match (another player's bet) or match the bet of (another player) by staking an equal sum
- as far as I can see ⇒ to the best of my judgment or understanding
- see fit ⇒ (takes an infinitive) to consider proper, desirable, etc: I don't see fit to allow her to come here
- see someone hanged first, see someone damned first ⇒ informal to refuse absolutely to do what one has been asked to do by someone
- see the light, see the light of day ⇒ See light1
- see you, see you later, be seeing you ⇒ an expression of farewell
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
see1 /si/USA pronunciation
v., saw/sɔ/USA pronunciation seen/sin/USA pronunciation see•ing.
v.
see2 /si/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to view (something) with the eyes;
look at: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]I saw her in the park.[~ + object + verb-ing]I saw her running in the park.[~ + object + root form of verb]I saw him shoot the police officer. - to have the power of sight:[not: be + ~-ing;no object]He can't see; he's been blind from birth.
- to view, as a spectator:[~ + object]I saw a good movie last night.
- Electronics to scan or view, esp. by electronic means:[not: be + ~-ing;~ + object]When the electronic eye sees you, the door opens automatically.
- to grasp (things) mentally;
to understand: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]I see your point.[~ + clause]I see that you meant it; sorry I doubted you.[no object]Don't you see; we want to help you! - to form a mental image of: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]I can't see him as president.[~ + object + verb-ing]I can't see him running things.
- to imagine or believe that one sees something:[~ + object]You must be seeing things; there's nothing here.
- to be aware of;
recognize:[not: be + ~-ing]to see his mistakes. - (used as a polite request to draw the attention of someone to something):[no object]See, here it comes.
- to discover;
find out: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]See who is at the door.[no object]If you don't believe me, then here, see for yourself. - to read or read about: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]I saw it in the newspaper.[~ + that clause]I saw in the newspaper that your store carries these computers.
- to have knowledge or experience of:[~ + object]to see combat.
- [~ + that clause] to make sure:See that the door is locked.Compare see to below.
- to meet and converse with;
visit:[~ + object]Why don't you come and see me? - to receive (someone) as a visitor:[~ + object]not allowed to see anyone until after the operation.
- to court or date frequently:[~ + object]We've been seeing each other for the last year.
- to escort or accompany:[~ + object]It's late; why don't I see you home.
- (used with the subject pronouns I and we, or after let and the object pronouns me or us, to indicate a pause) to think;
consider:[no object]Let me see, what was his name? Let's see; does this round peg fit in the square hole? - see about, [~ + about + object]
- to inquire about;
investigate:It's his job to see about what his teachers are doing. - Also, see after. to take care of;
to attend to:Let me see about that and I'll call you back.
- to inquire about;
- see off, to accompany (someone about to go on a journey) to the place of departure: [~ + off + object]We went to the airport to see off my aunt and uncle.[~ + object + off]to see them off.
- see out, [~ + object + out] to escort to an outer door:He saw her out the door with a smile.
- see through:
- [~ + through + object] to figure out the nature of (someone), esp. to detect or discover a lie:saw right through his excuses.
- [~ + object + through] to remain with until completion:Don't quit now; let's see this job through.
- see to, [~ + to + object] to take care of;
attend to;
see about:I'll see to all the travel arrangements.
- Idioms see red, [Informal.]to become enraged:He saw red when he found that he'd have to pay once again for the same repairs.
- Compare the words see and look. The verb look refers to a much more active sense in which the subject uses the eyes, moves them, turns the head, and generally participates more in the action:I looked at the people rushing by (= I moved my eyes, perhaps even turning my head to observe them).The verb see is much less active and implies less participation by the subject; with this verb, the image of the object simply strikes the subject's eyes, and the subject does much less:I saw her standing there (= The image of her standing there simply struck my eyes; I had very little to do with the activity).Whenever a meaning of a verb implies activity or participation, there is a good chance the progressive aspect ([be + ~-ing]) may be used:I was looking at the people rushing by.I have been seeing her (= dating) for two years.But when the action of a verb does not imply continuing activity or participation by the subject, the progressive aspect is not used, which is why see so often does not allow the progressive aspect:I saw her standing there (NOT: I was seeing her...).
see2 /si/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- Religionthe seat, center of authority, or office of a bishop.
see1
(sē),USA pronunciation v., saw, seen, see•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
see′a•ble, adj.
see′a•ble•ness, n.
see2 (sē),USA pronunciation n. [Eccles.]
v.t.
- to perceive with the eyes;
look at. - to view;
visit or attend as a spectator:to see a play. - Computingto perceive by means of computer vision.
- Electronicsto scan or view, esp. by electronic means:The satellite can see the entire southern half of the country.
- to perceive (things) mentally;
discern;
understand:to see the point of an argument. - to construct a mental image of;
visualize:He still saw his father as he was 25 years ago. - to accept or imagine or suppose as acceptable:I can't see him as president.
- to be cognizant of;
recognize:to see the good in others; to see where the mistake is. - to foresee:He could see war ahead.
- to ascertain, learn, or find out:See who is at the door.
- to have knowledge or experience of:to see service in the foreign corps.
- to make sure:See that the work is done.
- to meet and converse with:Are you seeing her at lunch today?
- to receive as a visitor:The ambassador finally saw him.
- to visit:He's gone to see his aunt.
- to court, keep company with, or date frequently:They've been seeing each other for a long time.
- to provide aid or assistance to;
take care of:He's seeing his brother through college. - to attend or escort:to see someone home.
- Games[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. - 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.
- to read or read about:I saw it in the newspaper.
v.i.
- to have the power of sight.
- Computingto be capable of perceiving by means of computer vision.
- to understand intellectually or spiritually;
have insight:Philosophy teaches us to see. - to give attention or care:See, there it goes.
- to find out;
make inquiry:Go and see for yourself. - to consider;
think;
deliberate:Let me see, how does that song go? - to look about;
observe:They heard the noise and came out to see. - 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.
- to investigate;
- see after, to attend to;
take care of:Will you please see after my plants while I'm away? - 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. - see out, to remain with (a task, project, etc.) until its completion:We decided to see it out, even if it meant another year.
- 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.
- to penetrate to the true nature of;
- see to, to take care of;
be responsible for:I'll see to the theater tickets.
- bef. 900; Middle English seen, Old English sēon; cognate with Dutch zien, German sehen, Old Norse sjā, Gothic saihwan
see′a•ble•ness, n.
- 1. observe, notice, distinguish, discern, behold, regard. See watch. 5. comprehend, penetrate. 10. determine. 11. know, undergo. 18. accompany.
see2 (sē),USA pronunciation n. [Eccles.]
- Religionthe seat, center of authority, office, or jurisdiction of a bishop.
- Latin sēdes seat
- Old French se (variant of sie)
- Middle English se(e) 1250–1300
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
see /siː/ vb (sees, seeing, saw, seen)
see /siː/ n
- the diocese of a bishop, or the place within it where his or her cathedral or procathedral is situated
See also Holy See
'see' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
a
- AAA
- abalone
- abase
- abbatial
- Abbevillian
- Abdullah II
- aberration
- ablaut
- Aborigine
- abracadabra
- absolute
- absolutism
- abstention
- abstract expressionism
- absurd
- abuse
- AC
- acacia
- academe
- Acadian
- acariasis
- accent
- accentor
- access
- accessory
- accidence
- accomplice
- accomplish
- accouchement
- account
- accretion
- accusative
- acephalous
- acer
- acetic acid
- achillea
- acid
- acne
- acquired characteristic
- acrogen
- actinia
- actinomorphic
- action painting
- active
- actuals
- actuary
- acuminate
- adder
- A, a