see

verb, intj, noun — 24 senses

see

verb

UK /ˈsiː/ · CA, US /ˈsi/

Etymology

From Middle English seen, from Old English sēon (“to see, look, behold, perceive, observe, discern, understand, know”), from Proto-West Germanic *sehwan, from Proto-Germanic *sehwaną (“to see”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to see, notice”). Etymology 1 sense 9 is a calque of Latin vidē (“see (thou)”, 2ⁿᵈ person singular imperative), which was also borrowed into academic English (see vide) as well as Portuguese. Cognates Cognate with Scots see, sei (“to see”), Yola sau, ze, zee, zey, zie (“to see”), North Frisian se, si, siin, siine, siinj, sä, säie (“to see”), Saterland Frisian sjo (“to see”), West Frisian sjen (“to see”), Bavarian segn (“to see”), Central Franconian sehn, senn (“to see”), Dutch zien (“to see”), Low German sehn (“to see; to look”), German sehen (“to see”), Limburgish séëne, zeen (“to see”), Luxembourgish gesinn (“to see”), Alemannic German gseh (“to see”), Mòcheno sechen (“to see”), Vilamovian zaon (“to see”), Yiddish זען (zen, “to see”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish se (“to see”), Elfdalian sją̊ (“to see”), Faroese síggja (“to see”), Icelandic sjá (“to see”), Norwegian Nynorsk sjå (“to see”), sia (“to foretell”), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍈𐌰𐌽 (saiƕan, “to see”), and more distantly with Albanian shof, shoh (“to see”), Latin secūtus, sequūtus (“followed”), Ancient Greek ἕπομαι (hépomai, “to follow, obey”), Persian ا (a), از (az), ز (ze, “from, of”), Luwian 𒁕𒀀𒌋𒄿𒅖 (“eye”), Sanskrit सच् (sac, “to be associated with, familiar with, have to do with”).

20 senses
  1. 1To perceive or detect someone or something with the…
  2. 2To witness or observe by personal experience.
  3. 3To watch (a movie) at a cinema, or a show on television etc.
  4. 4To form a mental picture of, to perceive in a certain way.
  5. 5To understand.
  6. 6To come to a realization of having been mistaken or misled.
  7. 7To foresee, predict, or prophesy.
  8. 8Used to emphasise a proposition.
  9. 9To have an interview with; especially, to make a call…
  10. 10To date frequently.
  11. 11To visit for an appointment, especially a medical appointment.
  12. 12To be attended to during an appointment, especially a…
  13. 13To be the setting or time of.
  14. 14Chiefly followed by that: to ensure that something…
  15. 15To wait upon; attend, escort.
  16. 16To respond to another player's bet with a bet of equal value.
  17. 17To determine by trial or experiment; to find out (if or whether).
  18. 18To reference or to study for further details.
  19. 19To examine something closely, or to utilize something…
  20. 20To include as one of something's experiences.
1

To perceive or detect someone or something with the eyes, or as if by sight.

  • Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path.[…]It twisted and turned,[…]and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. And, back of the lawn, was a big, old-fashioned house, with piazzas stretching in front of it, and all blazing with lights. 'Twas the house I'd seen the roof of from the beach.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 18:
  • I turned into the garden, and saw the flutter of her dress as she escaped down a side-walk, and heard the sound of a stifled sob.1878, Chamber's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Arts, United Kingdom: W & R Chambers, page 522:
2 more examples
  • But Richmond[…]appeared to lose himself in his own reflections. Some pickled crab, which he had not touched, had been removed with a damson pie; and his sister saw[…]that he had eaten no more than a spoonful of that either.1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
  • To see us, you'd think we've been married for years, but actually just met a few months ago.2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
2

To witness or observe by personal experience.

  • Now I've seen it all!
  • I'm seeing much better since I got my eyeglasses recalibrated.
3 more examples
  • I have been blind since birth and I love to read Braille. When the books arrive in from the library, I can’t wait to see what stories they have sent me.
  • Uerely, verely I ſay vnto you, If a man keepe my ſaying, hee ſhall neuer ſee death.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 8:51, column 1:
  • […] And remember this, 'scape-gallows,' said Ralph, menacing him with his hand, 'that if we meet again, and you so much as notice me by one begging gesture, you shall see the inside of a jail once more […]1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Ralph Nickleby cuts an old Acquaintance. It would also appear from the contents hereof, that a joke, even between Husband and Wife, may be sometimes carried too far.”, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 434:
3

To watch (a movie) at a cinema, or a show on television etc.

  • I saw the latest Tarantino flick last week.
4

To form a mental picture of, to perceive in a certain way.

  • It is not just that we see birds as little versions of ourselves. It is also that, at the same time, they stand outside any moral process. They are utterly indifferent. This absolute oblivion on their part, this lack of sharing, is powerful.2013 August 23, Mark Cocker, “Wings of Desire”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 11, page 28:
  • The question of the plausibility of the counter-factual is seen as key in all three discussions of allohistorical fiction (as it is in Demandt's and Ferguson's examinations of allohistory) (cf. Rodiek 25–26; Ritter 15–16; Helbig 32).2014 October 14, David Malcolm, “The Great War Re-Remembered: Allohistory and Allohistorical Fiction”, in Martin Löschnigg, Marzena Sokolowska-Paryz, editors, The Great War in Post-Memory Literature and Film, Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG., →ISBN, page 173:
1 more example
  • Cathy and Cassie see their husbands as their best chance at securing comfortable lives.2026 May 27, Judy Berman, “When Did On-Screen Weddings Get So Bleak?”, in TIME, archived from the original on 28 May 2026:
5

Figuratively To understand.

  • Do you see what I mean?
  • Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic[…]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become.[…]But the scandals kept coming[…]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul.2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:
6

Figuratively To come to a realization of having been mistaken or misled.

  • They're blind to the damage they do, but someday they'll see.
7

To foresee, predict, or prophesy.

  • The oracle saw the destruction of the city.
  • I can't see me lovin' nobody but you / For all my life / When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue / For all my life1967, Alan Gordon, Garry Bonner, “Happy Together”, performed by The Turtles:
8

Used in the imperative Used to emphasise a proposition.

  • You see, Johnny, your Dad isn't your real father.
  • You're not welcome here any more, see?

› To meet, to visit.

9

To have an interview with; especially, to make a call upon; to visit.

  • You'd better see about that with the boss.
  • And Samuel came no more to ſee Saul vntill the day of his death: neuertheleſſe, Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king ouer Iſrael.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 15:35, column 2:
10

To date frequently.

  • I've been seeing her for two months.
  • "You're... remarrying? I didn't even know you were seeing someone. And she's going to live here?"2022 September 9, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Friday, Sep 9, 2022:
11

To visit for an appointment, especially a medical appointment.

  • You should see a doctor about that rash on your arm.
  • I've been seeing a therapist for three years now.
1 more example
  • I saw my parole officer this morning for a drug test.
12

To be attended to during an appointment, especially a medical appointment.

  • The doctor will see you now.
13

Ergative To be the setting or time of.

  • The 20th century saw humanity's first space exploration.
  • 1999 saw the release of many great films.
1 more example
  • It seems as if every passing year sees the mainstream embrace a longtime cult-favorite alternative rock band.1995 June 3, David Sprague, “Buffalo Tom Reaches Crossroads: EastWest Trio At Make-Or-Break Point”, in Billboard, volume 107, number 22, page 9:
14

Broadly Chiefly followed by that: to ensure that something happens, especially by personally witnessing it.

  • I'll see you hang for this
  • I was at the docks seeing that the goods got properly unloaded.
4 more examples
  • I saw that they didn't make any more trouble.
  • As to eleemoſynary corporations, by the dotation the founder and his heirs are of common right the legal viſitors, to ſee that that property is rightly employed, which would otherwiſe have deſcended to the viſitor himſelf: […]1765, William Blackstone, “Of Corporations”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 469:
  • 'Don't worry. You won't lose out. I'll see you get your share of the action. If not now, later.'2001, Joan Lock, Death in Perspective, London: Robert Hale, →ISBN, page 52:
  • We have forgotten that such a transition will require compromise, as we address real energy needs today, and investment, as we adapt to cleaner ways of producing energy tomorrow. A well-managed transition will see that the opportunities flowing from the transformation dramatically exceed these costs.2022 October 27, Brian Porter, “The last barrel of oil should be a Canadian one”, in The Globe and Mail, Toronto, ON: The Woodbridge Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Dec 2022:
15

To wait upon; attend, escort.

  • I saw the old lady safely across the road.
  • You can see yourself out.
1 more example
  • And in this Name we overcome, for You shall see us safely home.2020, Rich Thompson, Jonny Robinson, “Your Will Be Done”:
16

Gambling, Games To respond to another player's bet with a bet of equal value.

  • I'll see your twenty dollars and raise you ten.
17

To determine by trial or experiment; to find out (if or whether).

  • I'll come over later and see if I can fix your computer.
  • You think I can't beat you in a race, eh? We'll see.
1 more example
  • Look to see if these jeans still fit you.
18

Used in the imperative To reference or to study for further details.

  • Step 4: In the system, check out the laptop to the student (see: "Logging Resources" in the Tutor Manual).
  • For a complete proof of the Poincaré conjecture, see Appendix C.
19

To examine something closely, or to utilize something, often as a temporary alternative.

  • Can I see that lighter for a second? Mine just quit working.
20

To include as one of something's experiences.

  • The equipment has not seen usage outside of our projects.
  • I saw military service in Vietnam.
Synonyms
behold, descry, espy, observe, view, follow, get, understand, go out, decern, notice, pipe, spot
Derived terms
214 termsaftersee, all-seeing eye, as far as the eye can see, as far as the eye could see, as I see it, believing is seeing, besee, be seeing ya, be seeing you, children should be seen and not heard, fancy seeing you here, farsee, for all the world to see, foresee, forsee, can see to can't see, go-see, half-seen, happy to see someone, have seen better days, have seen one's day, have seen one's last gum tree, have seen this film, have seen this movie, how see, I'd like to see someone try, if I ever saw one, if I've ever seen one, if you see something, say something, if you see what I mean, I know it when I see it, I like to see you try, I'll believe it when I see it, I'll be seeing you, I'll see myself out, ill-seen, I'll see you and raise you, insee, I see, I see it in someone's eyes, I see what you did there, I see you, is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me, lai see, leave someone on seen, let me see, let's see, let the dog see the rabbit, let us see, long time no see, lookers-on see most of the game, look-see, missee, must-see, no eye see, no-see-um, nothing to see, nothing to see here, not if I see you first, not see for looking, not see someone for dust, not see straight, nowhere to be seen, now I've seen everything, o-mok-see, on seen, outsee, oversee, plain to see, pre-see, raise the flag and see who salutes, remain to be seen, resee, seeability, seeable, about, after, also, a man, a man about a dog, a man about a horse, an argument, and be seen, a way clear to, a wolf, beyond, beyond the end of one's nose, beyond the tip of one's nose, see-bright, coming, daylight, dollar signs, double, eye to eye, fit, for, for oneself, here, how, how the land lies, hum, if I care, in, seeing as, seeing-eye, seeing eye ball, seeing eye dog, seeing is believing, seeing stone, seeing that, seeing-to, into, into a millstone, light, mui, Naples and die, off, one's breath, oneself out, one's way clear to, one's way to, out, over, past, past the end of one's nose, past the tip of one's nose, seer, reason, red, see-saw, see-see, see-see partridge, sense, service, shit, someone right, someone's etchings, something green in one's eye, stars, that, the back of, the dark side of the moon, the day, the elephant, the error of one's ways, the forest but for the trees, the forest for the trees, the forest through the trees, the glass half-empty, the glass half-full, the last of, the light, the light of day, the point, the same way, the trees through the forest, the way clear to, the wood for the trees, the woods for the trees, the world, things, through a millstone, see-throughness, see-through, through, see-thru, to, to it, what sticks, which way the cat jumps, with half an eye, ya, yellow, you, you around, you in hell, you in the funny pages, you in the funny papers, you Jimmy hat, you later, you later alligator, you next Thursday, you next Tuesday, you round, you soon, you tomorrow, you when I see you, send it up the flagpole and see who salutes, should see the other guy, sight-see, sight-seeing, sip-and-see, sip-and-see party, suck it and see, that which has been seen cannot be unseen, there are none so blind as those who will not see, there for everyone to see, there's none so blind as those who will not see, throw things at the wall and see what sticks, titular see, undersee, unsee, unseeability, wait and see, wait-and-see, well-seen, what has been seen cannot be unseen, what the butler saw, what you see is what you get, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, worth seeing, wouldn't be seen dead, you ain't seen nothing yet, you see
Related terms
eye, eyeball, get a load of, glimpse, peeping Tom, take a gander, deem
Hyponyms
bird dog, glance, look, look at, observe, pry, stare, watch, gape, look-see, identify, leer, look around, ogle, peek, peep, peer, sight, spy, witness

see

intj
Etymology

From Middle English seen, from Old English sēon (“to see, look, behold, perceive, observe, discern, understand, know”), from Proto-West Germanic *sehwan, from Proto-Germanic *sehwaną (“to see”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to see, notice”). Etymology 1 sense 9 is a calque of Latin vidē (“see (thou)”, 2ⁿᵈ person singular imperative), which was also borrowed into academic English (see vide) as well as Portuguese. Cognates Cognate with Scots see, sei (“to see”), Yola sau, ze, zee, zey, zie (“to see”), North Frisian se, si, siin, siine, siinj, sä, säie (“to see”), Saterland Frisian sjo (“to see”), West Frisian sjen (“to see”), Bavarian segn (“to see”), Central Franconian sehn, senn (“to see”), Dutch zien (“to see”), Low German sehn (“to see; to look”), German sehen (“to see”), Limburgish séëne, zeen (“to see”), Luxembourgish gesinn (“to see”), Alemannic German gseh (“to see”), Mòcheno sechen (“to see”), Vilamovian zaon (“to see”), Yiddish זען (zen, “to see”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Swedish se (“to see”), Elfdalian sją̊ (“to see”), Faroese síggja (“to see”), Icelandic sjá (“to see”), Norwegian Nynorsk sjå (“to see”), sia (“to foretell”), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍈𐌰𐌽 (saiƕan, “to see”), and more distantly with Albanian shof, shoh (“to see”), Latin secūtus, sequūtus (“followed”), Ancient Greek ἕπομαι (hépomai, “to follow, obey”), Persian ا (a), از (az), ز (ze, “from, of”), Luwian 𒁕𒀀𒌋𒄿𒅖 (“eye”), Sanskrit सच् (sac, “to be associated with, familiar with, have to do with”).

1

Introducing an explanation

  • See, in order to win the full prize we would have to come up with a scheme to land a rover on the Moon.
Related terms
look, sight, watch

see

noun

Etymology From Middle English se, see, from Old French sie (“seat, throne; town, capital; episcopal see”), from Latin sēdēs (“seat”), referring to the bishop's throne or chair (compare seat of power) in the cathedral; related to the Latin verb sedēre (“to sit”). Doublet of sedes.

1

A diocese or archdiocese: a region of a church, generally headed by a bishop or an archbishop.

2

The office of a bishop or archbishop.

3

A seat; a site; a place where sovereign, autonomous, or autocephalous power is exercised.

  • Ioue laught on Venus from his ſouerayne ſee1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 2, page 478:
Derived terms
Holy See
Related terms
seat, sedentary, sit, cathedra, cathedral, chair, throne

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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