see
A1Universal across all registers, from formal to slang.
Definition
Meaning
To perceive with the eyes; to become aware of visually.
To understand, grasp, or comprehend mentally; to meet with or visit someone; to imagine or foresee; to ensure or verify; to accompany or escort.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Serves as one of the most basic and polyfunctional verbs in English, extending from literal visual perception to a vast range of metaphorical and functional meanings (e.g., understanding, experiencing, dating, ensuring). 'See' implies an active act of perception, not just the passive ability to see.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Notable differences exist in specific collocations and formulaic expressions (e.g., 'See you later' vs. 'See you'/'Later'), and in the use of 'see' in legal/judicial contexts ('the court sees it as...' is more common in AmE).
Connotations
British English may use 'see' more frequently in polite formulae ('I'll see what I can do'). The imperative 'See?' (meaning 'Do you understand?') is slightly more informal and frequent in American speech.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties, ranking among the top 50 most common verbs.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
see + NP (I see a bird)see + that-clause (I see that you're busy)see + NP + bare infinitive (I saw him leave)see + NP + -ing (I saw him leaving)see + NP + past participle (I want to see it done)see + wh-clause (See how it works)see + to it + that-clause (I'll see to it that it's finished)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “see eye to eye”
- “see the light”
- “see red”
- “seen better days”
- “see the back of someone”
- “see how the land lies”
- “see stars”
- “won't see 30 (age)”
- “I'll be seeing you”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in meetings and correspondence: 'I see your point,' 'We need to see a return on investment,' 'I'll see to the contract.'
Academic
Often denotes understanding or intellectual perception: 'As we see in the data,' 'Newton saw the universe differently,' 'The author sees this as a flaw.'
Everyday
Ubiquitous for perception, meetings, and understanding: 'See you later,' 'Do you see what I mean?' 'I saw a great film.'
Technical
Limited to literal visual perception in optics/medicine ('The sensor sees infrared light'), or metaphorical perception in computing ('The program sees the file as corrupt').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I can't see a thing in this fog.
- Shall we see a show in the West End?
- I don't quite see the logic of your plan.
- See that it gets posted today, would you?
American English
- I see a truck coming down the road.
- Let's go see a movie this weekend.
- Oh, I see what you're saying now.
- I'll see to the paperwork right away.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as a standard adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a standard adverb)
adjective
British English
- (In religious titles) the See of Canterbury
- (Rare/dated) a see-worthy spectacle
American English
- (In religious titles) the Holy See
- (Rare) Not a standard adjective form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I see a cat on the wall.
- See you tomorrow!
- Can you see the blackboard?
- I saw my friend at the supermarket yesterday.
- Do you see what I mean about the instructions?
- We went to see the new exhibition at the museum.
- Having seen the report, I now understand the scale of the problem.
- He was seen entering the building just after midnight.
- I don't see the point in arguing about it further.
- The court does not see fit to overturn the original ruling.
- She foresaw the market crash long before her colleagues did.
- He is widely seen as the leading authority in the field.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the two 'e's in 'see' as a pair of eyes looking at you.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (e.g., 'I see what you mean,' 'a clear argument,' 'a murky explanation').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'see' (воспринимать зрением/понимать) with 'look' (смотреть) or 'watch' (смотреть внимательно).
- Overusing 'see' for visiting places (в Russian 'посмотреть/посетить' город). In English, 'see the sights' is fine, but 'see London' usually means a brief visit, not 'live in'.
- Mistranslating 'I see' as я вижу in contexts where it means 'I understand' (я понимаю).
- The phrase 'see you' is a standard goodbye, not a literal promise of future visual perception.
Common Mistakes
- *I look a bird in the tree. (Correct: I see a bird)
- *I am seeing what you mean. (Correct: I see/I can see what you mean - 'see' for understanding is stative)
- *Let's go to see London for two years. (Awkward: 'live in/visit London for two years' is better)
- Incorrect verb patterns: *I saw him to leave. (Correct: I saw him leave/leaving)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'see' is metaphorical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but typically only for temporary situations ("I'm seeing spots before my eyes"), appointments ("I'm seeing the dentist at 3"), or romantic relationships ("They're seeing each other"). For general perception or understanding, use the simple present: "I see."
'See' is about the passive ability or fact of visual perception. 'Look' is a deliberate action of directing your eyes. 'Watch' is to look at something attentively, usually for a period of time (e.g., watch TV, watch a game).
Yes, this is one of its most common metaphorical uses. "I see what you mean" = "I understand what you mean."
It means to take responsibility for ensuring that something is done. "I'll see to it that the package is sent today."
Collections
Part of a collection
Daily Verbs
A1 · 50 words · Essential action words used in everyday conversation.