SEE (saw, seen)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does see mean? 

• SEE (noun)
  The noun SEE has 1 sense:

1. the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located

  Familiarity information: SEE used as a noun is very rare.

• SEE (verb)
  The verb SEE has 24 senses:

1. perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

2. perceive (an idea or situation) mentally

3. perceive or be contemporaneous with

4. imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind

5. deem to be

6. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally

7. see or watch

8. come together

9. find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort

10. be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

11. go to see for professional or business reasons

12. go to see for a social visit

13. go to see a place, as for entertainment

14. take charge of or deal with

15. receive as a specified guest

16. date regularly; have a steady relationship with

17. see and understand, have a good eye

18. deliberate or decide

19. observe as if with an eye

20. observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect

21. undergo or live through a difficult experience

22. accompany or escort

23. match or meet

24. make sense of; assign a meaning to

  Familiarity information: SEE used as a verb is very familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SEE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("see" is a kind of...):

seat (a center of authority (as a city from which authority is exercised))

Instance hyponyms:

Holy See; State of the Vatican City; The Holy See (the smallest sovereign state in the world; the see of the Pope (as the Bishop of Rome); home of the Pope and the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church; achieved independence from Italy in 1929)

Holonyms ("see" is a part of...):

bishopric; diocese; episcopate (the territorial jurisdiction of a bishop)

• SEE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

He is blind--he cannot see

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Verb group:

catch; see; take in; view; watch (see or watch)

see (observe as if with an eye)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

behold; lay eyes on (see with attention)

see (see and understand, have a good eye)

glimpse (catch a glimpse of or see briefly)

catch a glimpse; catch sight; get a look (see something for a brief time)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue see the movie

Derivation:

seeing (normal use of the faculty of vision)

seeing (perception by means of the eyes)

seer (an observer who perceives visually)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Perceive (an idea or situation) mentally

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

realise; realize; see; understand

Context example:

I don't understand the idea

Verb group:

envision; fancy; figure; image; picture; project; see; visualise; visualize (imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind)

see (see and understand, have a good eye)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

perceive (become conscious of)

appreciate; take account (be fully aware of; realize fully)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They see that there was a traffic accident

Sense 3

Meaning:

Perceive or be contemporaneous with

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

find; see; witness

Context example:

I want to see results

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

experience; go through; see (undergo or live through a difficult experience)

Verb group:

discover; find out; get a line; get wind; get word; hear; learn; pick up; see (get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally)

find (perceive oneself to be in a certain condition or place)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

catch (become aware of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 4

Meaning:

Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

envision; fancy; figure; image; picture; project; see; visualise; visualize

Context example:

I can see a risk in this strategy

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

conceive of; envisage; ideate; imagine (form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case)

Verb group:

realise; realize; see; understand (perceive (an idea or situation) mentally)

visualise; visualize (form a mental picture of something that is invisible or abstract)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

seer (a person with unusual powers of foresight)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Deem to be

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

consider; reckon; regard; see; view

Context example:

I don't see the situation quite as negatively as you do

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

believe; conceive; consider; think (judge or regard; look upon; judge)

Verb group:

construe; interpret; see (make sense of; assign a meaning to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

appreciate; prize; treasure; value (hold dear)

capitalise; capitalize (consider expenditures as capital assets rather than expenses)

make (consider as being)

disesteem; disrespect (have little or no respect for; hold in contempt)

esteem; prise; prize; respect; value (regard highly; think much of)

deem; hold; take for; view as (keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view)

idealise; idealize (consider or render as ideal)

reify (consider an abstract concept to be real)

abstract (consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically)

favor; favour (consider as the favorite)

relativise; relativize (consider or treat as relative)

identify (consider (oneself) as similar to somebody else)

expect (consider reasonable or due)

receive (regard favorably or with disapproval)

reconsider (consider again; give new consideration to; usually with a view to changing)

reconsider (consider again (a bill) that had been voted upon before, with a view to altering it)

include (consider as part of something)

consider (regard or treat with consideration, respect, and esteem)

call (consider or regard as being)

like (feel about or towards; consider, evaluate, or regard)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 6

Meaning:

Get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

discover; find out; get a line; get wind; get word; hear; learn; pick up; see

Context example:

I see that you have been promoted

Verb group:

find; see; witness (perceive or be contemporaneous with)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

get the goods (discover some bad or hidden information about)

wise up (get wise to)

catch; trip up (detect a blunder or misstep)

ascertain (learn or discover with certainty)

discover; find (make a discovery)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 7

Meaning:

See or watch

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

catch; see; take in; view; watch

Context example:

see a movie

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

watch (look attentively)

Verb group:

see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

visualise; visualize (view the outline of by means of an X-ray)

spectate (be a spectator in a sports event)

preview (watch (a movie or play) before it is released to the general public)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue see the movie

Derivation:

seer (an observer who perceives visually)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Come together

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

come across; encounter; meet; run across; run into; see

Context example:

How nice to see you again!

Verb group:

assemble; foregather; forgather; gather; meet (collect in one place)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

cross; intersect (meet at a point)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 9

Meaning:

Find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

ascertain; check; determine; find out; learn; see; watch

Context example:

Check whether the train leaves on time

Verb group:

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it (be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something)

ascertain; determine; find; find out (establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

test (determine the presence or properties of (a substance))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They see whether there was a traffic accident

Sense 10

Meaning:

Be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

ascertain; assure; check; control; ensure; insure; see; see to it

Context example:

control the quality of the product

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

verify (confirm the truth of)

Verb group:

check; check off; mark; mark off; tick; tick off (put a check mark on or near or next to)

check (verify by consulting a source or authority)

ascertain; check; determine; find out; learn; see; watch (find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort)

control; verify (check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

spot-check (pick out random samples for examination in order to ensure high quality)

cover (maintain a check on; especially by patrolling)

card (ask someone for identification to determine whether he or she is old enough to consume liquor)

cinch (make sure of)

cross-check (check out conflicting sources; crosscheck facts, for example)

double-check (check once more to be absolutely sure)

control (verify by using a duplicate register for comparison)

proof; proofread (read for errors)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sense 11

Meaning:

Go to see for professional or business reasons

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

We had to see a psychiatrist

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

call; call in; visit (pay a brief visit)

Verb group:

see (receive as a specified guest)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 12

Meaning:

Go to see for a social visit

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

I went to see my friend Mary the other day

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

call; call in; visit (pay a brief visit)

Verb group:

see; visit (go to see a place, as for entertainment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot see Sue

Sense 13

Meaning:

Go to see a place, as for entertainment

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

see; visit

Context example:

We went to see the Eiffel Tower in the morning

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

tour (make a tour of a certain place)

Verb group:

see (go to see for a social visit)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

take in (visit for entertainment)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 14

Meaning:

Take charge of or deal with

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

attend; look; see; take care

Context example:

She took care of this business

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

care; give care (provide care for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

minister (attend to the wants and needs of others)

tend (have care of or look after)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 15

Meaning:

Receive as a specified guest

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The minister doesn't see anybody before noon

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

invite; receive; take in (express willingness to have in one's home or environs)

Verb group:

see (go to see for professional or business reasons)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 16

Meaning:

Date regularly; have a steady relationship with

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

date; go out; go steady; see

Context example:

He is dating his former wife again!

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

affiliate; associate; assort; consort (keep company with; hang out with)

Verb group:

date (go on a date with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot see Sue

Sense 17

Meaning:

See and understand, have a good eye

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

The artist must first learn to see

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)

Verb group:

realise; realize; see; understand (perceive (an idea or situation) mentally)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

seeing (normal use of the faculty of vision)

Sense 18

Meaning:

Deliberate or decide

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

let's see--which movie should we see tonight?

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

consider; debate; deliberate; moot; turn over (think about carefully; weigh)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sense 19

Meaning:

Observe as if with an eye

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

The camera saw the burglary and recorded it

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

detect; discover; find; notice; observe (discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of)

Verb group:

see (perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 20

Meaning:

Observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

examine; see

Context example:

I must see your passport before you can enter the country

"See" entails doing...:

look (perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

peruse (examine or consider with attention and in detail)

check (make an examination or investigation)

inspect (look over carefully)

look; search (search or seek)

scrutinise; scrutinize; size up; take stock (to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail)

scan (examine minutely or intensely)

glance over; rake; run down; scan; skim (examine hastily)

survey (look over carefully or inspect)

auscultate (examine by auscultation)

autopsy (perform an autopsy on a dead body; do a post-mortem)

candle (examine eggs for freshness by holding them against a light)

x-ray (examine by taking x-rays)

search (subject to a search)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 21

Meaning:

Undergo or live through a difficult experience

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

experience; go through; see

Context example:

he saw action in Viet Nam

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

undergo (pass through)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

experience; know; live (have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations)

endure; suffer (undergo or be subjected to)

meet; suffer (undergo or suffer)

feel (undergo passive experience of)

enjoy (have for one's benefit)

find; see; witness (perceive or be contemporaneous with)

come (experience orgasm)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 22

Meaning:

Accompany or escort

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

escort; see

Context example:

I'll see you to the door

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

accompany (go or travel along with)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 23

Meaning:

Match or meet

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

I saw the bet of one of my fellow players

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

bet; play; wager (stake on the outcome of an issue)

Domain category:

card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 24

Meaning:

Make sense of; assign a meaning to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

construe; interpret; see

Context example:

How do you interpret his behavior?

Hypernyms (to "see" is one way to...):

understand (know and comprehend the nature or meaning of)

Verb group:

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "see"):

draw out; educe; elicit; evoke; extract (deduce (a principle) or construe (a meaning))

read; scan (obtain data from magnetic tapes or other digital sources)

read (interpret something that is written or printed)

read; take (interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression)

allegorise; allegorize (interpret as an allegory)

spiritualise; spiritualize (give a spiritual meaning to; read in a spiritual sense)

literalise; literalize (make literal)

mythicise; mythicize (interpret as a myth or in terms of mythology)

read between the lines (read what is implied but not expressed on the surface)

be amiss; misapprehend; misconceive; misconstrue; misinterpret; misunderstand (interpret in the wrong way)

reinterpret (assign a new or different meaning to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

I suppose it wasn't about South America you wanted to see him?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You can see a single hair with your eyes, and you can even take a picture of one with a smartphone.

(Smartphone microscope detects nanoparticles and viruses, NIH)

Mastcam sees color very similarly to what human eyes see, although it is actually a little less sensitive to blue than people are.

(Sunset in Mars' Gale Crater, NASA)

It may present at any age but it is more commonly seen in children.

(Acute Myeloid Leukemia with t(9;11)(p22;q23); MLLT3-MLL, NCI Thesaurus)

NOTE: For further information, see the ICH Guideline for Clinical Safety Data Management: Definitions and Standards for Expedited Reporting. [Modified from ICH E2A] Synonyms: side effect, adverse experience.

(Adverse event, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

"What should I see besides Aunt Reed in the apartment?—a man or a woman?"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

ACF form before colorectal polyps and are one of the earliest changes that can be seen in the colon that may lead to cancer.

(Aberrant Crypt Focus, NCI Dictionary)

Aberrant crypt foci form before colorectal polyps and are one of the earliest changes that can be seen in the colon that may lead to cancer.

(Aberrant crypt foci, NCI Dictionary)

Jorindel was very glad indeed to see this.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

She was surprised, as she walked along, to see how pretty the country was about her.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)