verb | noun
seesee1 /si/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense saw /sɔ/, past participle seen /sin/) 1
ABILITY TO SEE [intransitive, transitive not in progressive] to be able to use your eyes to look at things and know what they are: Dad doesn’t see as well as he used to.can/can’t see I can’t see anything without my glasses.2NOTICE/EXAMINE [transitive not in progressive] to notice, examine, or recognize someone or something by looking: She turned and saw him. May I see your ticket, please?can/can’t see You can see the Empire State Building from here.see where/what/who etc. Did you see who it was?see (that) Oh, I see you got a new TV.see somebody/something doing something I saw her dancing with John.see somebody/something do something He saw the two women leave about 7.see if/whether Can you see if Robert’s there? Have you seen my keys? As you can see, we haven’t finished yet.► see thesaurus at watch1THESAURUSlook at somebody/something – to deliberately pay attention to something using your eyes: She was looking at the big painting on the wall.watch – to look at and pay attention to something that is happening or moving, usually for a long period: We watched the kids play soccer.spot – to suddenly see something, especially something you are looking for: I finally spotted her near the gates of the stadium.catch sight of somebody/something – to suddenly see someone or something: Lila’s smile faded as she caught sight of me.catch/get a glimpse of something (also glimpse) – to see something, but only for a very short time: I caught a glimpse of him getting onto a subway car.notice – to see something interesting or unusual: I noticed a police car outside their house.make something out – to see something, but only with difficulty: Ahead, I could just make out the figure of a woman in the fog.witness – to see something happen, especially a crime or an accident: Two cab drivers witnessed the mugging.observe formal – to see and notice something: Police asked if I had observed anything unusual.perceive formal – to see something, because you are physically able to. Used especially in scientific language: Rattlesnakes can perceive infrared light, but people cannot.3UNDERSTAND [intransitive, transitive not in progressive] to understand or realize something: see why/what/who etc. I can see why she was upset. I see what you mean – her voice is really irritating. I could never see the point of making us write in pencil (=could not understand the reason for or importance of it).► see thesaurus at understand4NOTICE something IS TRUE [transitive not in progressive] to notice that something is happening or that something is true: After a month of practice, you will see a difference in your playing.see (that) I can see there might be problems.5FIND OUT [transitive] to find out information or a fact: see what/when/who/how etc. Let’s go see what Mom is doing.see if/whether I’ll call Tina and see if she’s going.6IN THE FUTURE [intransitive, transitive] to find out about something in the future: see if/whether I’ll be interested to see whether he replies to my letter.see how/what/when etc. I might come – I’ll see how I feel tomorrow. We just have to wait and see what happens. Everything will be fine – you’ll see.see how it goes/see how things go Just give it a try and see how it goes (=used when you are going to do something and will deal with problems as they appear).7WATCH [transitive not in progressive] to watch a television program, movie, play, etc.: We saw a great show on PBS last night.8VISIT/MEET somebody [transitive] a)to visit or meet someone: Hi, I’m here to see Mary Jorgensen. I’ll see you at 2:30 at the mall. b)to be visited by someone: Danielle’s still too sick to see anyone today.9MEET BY CHANCE [transitive not in progressive] to meet someone by chance: We saw Kathy and her mom at the airport.10HAVE A MEETING [transitive] to have an arranged meeting with someone: Ally has been seeing an analyst for years.see somebody about something Why don’t you see Bryan about the job?11SPEND TIME WITH somebody [transitive] to spend time with someone: I’ve been seeing a lot of Joanne lately.see more/less etc. of somebody Do you see much of Rick these days?12be seeing somebody to be having a romantic relationship with someone: Is Marge still seeing Tom?13WHERE INFORMATION IS [transitive only in imperative] used to tell you where you can find information: See p. 58. See local listings for movie times.see above/below The results are shown in Table 7a (see below).14CONSIDER IN A PARTICULAR WAY [transitive always + adv./prep.] to regard or consider someone or something in a particular way: Having a child makes you see things differently.see somebody/something as something I see the job as a challenge. The decision is seen as a setback for the White House.the way somebody sees it/as somebody sees it The way I see it, we have two choices.be seen to be something The country was seen to be an economic threat.SPOKEN PHRASES15see you! used to say goodbye when you know you will see someone again: See you later, Colleen.see you tomorrow/at 3/Sunday etc. I’ll see you all in two weeks.see you in a while/a bit/an hour etc. We’ll see you folks in a little while. Okay then, I’ll be seeing you (=see you soon)!16I see used to show that you are listening to what someone is telling you and that you understand it: “First you need to switch the machine on like this.” “Oh, I see.”17we’ll see said when you do not want to make a decision about something immediately, especially when you are talking to a child: “Can I come with you, Mommy?” “We’ll see, sweetheart.”18let’s see (also let me see) used to show that you are trying to remember or find something: Okay, let’s see, what were we talking about?19you see used when you are explaining something to someone: You see, he spends most of his time over at Bart’s house.20...see used to check that someone is listening and understands what you are explaining to him or her: You mix the flour and the eggs like this, see.21I’ll see what I can do used to say that you will try to help someone without promising to do it: “I really need it by tomorrow.” “I’ll see what I can do.”22see what somebody/something can do to find out how good someone or something is: Let’s take this car out to the track and see what it can do.23I don’t see why not used to say yes in answer to a question or request: “Can we go to the park?” “I don’t see why not.”24now I’ve seen everything (also now I’ve seen it all) used to say that you think something is very silly or shocking25seen one, seen 'em all (also once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all) used to say that things of a particular type become boring because they are very similar to each other: Once you’ve seen one of his movies, you’ve seen them all.26see your way (clear) to do something formal to be able and willing to help someone: If you could see your way to help us, it would be greatly appreciated.27see something through somebody’s eyes to see something or think about it in the way that someone else does28see (something) for yourself (also see something with your own eyes) to look at something so that you can find out if it is true, rather than believing what someone else tells you: Ed came outside to see for himself what was going on.29CHECK something [transitive not in progressive] to make sure or check that something is done correctly: see that It’s your job to see that it’s done correctly. Don’t worry – I’ll see to it.30WARNING [transitive only in imperative] used as a warning that something is important and must be done: see (that) Just see that you behave while you’re there.31EXPERIENCE [transitive not in progressive] to experience something: Dr. McNeil had never seen an injury like this before. I never thought I’d live to see the day you’d be buying me dinner. He’s an experienced politician, who has seen it all before.32IMAGINE [transitive not in progressive] to form a picture or idea of something or someone in your mind SYN imagine: He could see a great future for her in music. I just can’t see Marla as a teacher.see yourself doing something I don’t see myself doing this job forever.33TIME/PLACE [transitive] if a time or place has seen a particular event or situation, it happened or existed in that time or place: The U.S. saw a huge wave of immigration in the early 1900s.34GO WITH somebody [transitive always + adv./prep.] to go somewhere with someone to make sure that he or she gets there: He insisted on seeing me home. Let me see you to the door.35see something coming to realize that there is going to be a problem before it actually happens: Everyone had seen the layoffs coming.36see eye to eye [usually in negatives] if two people see eye to eye, they agree with each other: see with I don’t always see eye to eye with my father on politics.37be seeing things to imagine that you see something which is not really there38see fit (to do something) formal to consider an action to be appropriate and sensible: Management has not seen fit to replace the system yet. The committee is free to use the funds as it sees fit.39have seen better days informal to be in a bad condition: The car has definitely seen better days.40see something for what it is (also see somebody for what they are) to realize that someone or something is not as good or nice as he or she seems41you have to see something to believe it (also something has to be seen to be believed) used to say that something is so bad, big, unusual, etc. that you would not believe it could exist or happen if you did not see it yourself42not see the forest for the trees to be unable to understand something because you are looking too much at small details rather than the whole thing43see the last of somebody/something to not see someone or something again: I hope we’ve seen the last of him.44(see and) be seen (to look at and) to be noticed by people who are important in society: The restaurant is still the place to be seen in L.A.45see the world to travel to many different countries so that you can get a lot of different experiences46see the light a)to realize that something is true or must be done b)to have a special experience that makes you believe in a religion47see the light of day to start to exist, be seen, be used, etc., especially after being planned, hidden, unused, etc. for a long time: Supporters doubt the law will ever see the light of day.48see reason/sense to realize that you are being stupid or unreasonable49not see beyond the end of your nose to be so concerned with yourself and what you are doing that you do not realize what is happening to other people around you50GAME OF CARDS [transitive not in progressive] to risk the same amount of money as your opponent in a card game[Origin: Old English seon] → see also see the color of somebody’s money at color1 (11), see red at red2 (4), it remains to be seen at remain (4), seeingsee about something phrasal verb1to make arrangements or preparations for something to happen, or to deal with something: She had gone to a lawyer to see about a divorce.see about doing something Kenji will have to see about getting a visa.2we’ll see about that spoken a)used to say that you intend to stop someone from doing something that he or she is planning to do: Kim thinks she’s coming too, huh? Well, we’ll see about that! b) (also we’ll have to see about that) used to say that you do not know if something will be possiblesee something against something phrasal verb to consider something together with something else: This sales growth must be seen against the backdrop of the city’s overall economic expansion.see somebody around phrasal verb informal1to notice someone regularly in places where you go, without speaking to him or her: I never actually met her, but I’ve seen her around.2see you around spoken used to say goodbye to someone when you have not made a definite arrangement to meet againsee in phrasal verb1see something in somebody/something to notice a particular quality in someone or something that makes you like him, her, or it: Janna had the same sense of fun that I saw in her father.2not know what somebody sees in somebody (also what does somebody see in somebody?) used to say that you do not understand why someone likes someone else: What does Ron see in her?3see in the new year to celebrate the beginning of a new yearsee off phrasal verb1see somebody ↔ off to go to an airport, train station, etc. to say goodbye to someone: We went to the station to see him off.2see somebody/something ↔ off to defend yourself successfully in a fight or battle, or beat an opponent in a game: The company has successfully seen the competition off.see out phrasal verb1see somebody out to go to the door with someone to say goodbye: Don’t get up – I’ll see myself out (=used to tell someone they do not have to come to the door with you).2see something ↔ out to continue doing something or being somewhere until a particular period of time has finishedsee through phrasal verb1see through something to recognize the truth about something that is intended to deceive you: I can see through your little plan.2see through somebody to know what someone is really like, especially what his or her bad qualities are: He was no good at bluffing, and I saw right through him.3see something through to continue doing something, especially something difficult or not nice, until it is finished: Martin made it clear that he intends to see the project through.4see somebody through (also see somebody through something) to give help and support to someone during a difficult time: The money should see me through a few months of unemployment.see to somebody/something phrasal verb to deal with something or do something for someone: She’s upstairs seeing to the baby. Would you see to it that Michelle gets that report? verb | noun
seesee2 noun [countable] technical an area governed by a bishop