English Dictionary |
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
6. get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
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
20. observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect
21. undergo or live through a difficult experience
24. make sense of; assign a meaning to
Familiarity information: SEE used as a verb is very familiar.
Dictionary entry details
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)
Conjugation: |
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Past simple: saw
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Past participle: seen
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-ing form: seeing
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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:
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:
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:
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)
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:
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)
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"One swallow doesn't make a spring." (Bulgarian proverb)
"Good enough for Government work." (American proverb)
"He who leads an immoral life dies an immoral death." (Corsican proverb)