see out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumNeutral, slightly informal
Quick answer
What does “see out” mean?
To stay with someone until they leave a place, or to remain in a position until a period of time has ended.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To stay with someone until they leave a place, or to remain in a position until a period of time has ended.
1. To accompany a departing person to an exit. 2. To continue to do something until it is finished, especially a difficult period or task. 3. (Of a resource) to last until the end of a period. 4. To witness the end or departure of someone/something (e.g., 'see the year out').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. 'See out' in the sense of accompanying to the door is slightly more common in British English phrasing. The 'persevere until the end' meaning is equally used.
Connotations
Neutral in both. The 'accompany' sense can imply politeness or formality. The 'persevere' sense can imply endurance.
Frequency
Medium frequency in both varieties. Possibly more frequent in British English for the social/door-related sense.
Grammar
How to Use “see out” in a Sentence
[Subject] + see out + [Object (person/period)][Subject] + see + [Object (person)] + out + [of + location]We'll see the project out.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “see out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The host will see you out.
- Can you see the guests out?
- He's determined to see out his five-year term.
- This tin of paint should see us out for the job.
American English
- I'll see you out to your car.
- We have enough supplies to see out the storm.
- She plans to see out her contract before retiring.
- Let's see the project out together.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used regarding contracts, projects, or tenure ('He decided to see out his notice period').
Academic
Rare; could be used in historical contexts ('to see out the century').
Everyday
Common for social situations ('I'll see you out') and personal commitments ('We'll see the winter out in the cottage').
Technical
Not typically used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “see out”
- *I saw out him. (Correct: I saw him out.)
- *We need to see out from the contract. (Unnecessary preposition)
- Confusing 'see out' with 'see off' (the latter is specifically for journeys).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'See out' typically means to accompany someone to an exit (door, gate) or to persist until the end of a period. 'See off' is used specifically for saying goodbye to someone starting a journey (e.g., at an airport, station).
Yes. When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle: 'I saw him out.' With a noun, both positions are possible but 'see out the year' is more common than 'see the year out'.
Yes, in the sense of 'last until the end.' For example: 'This old car should see me out' (last for the rest of my life) or 'Our woodpile will see the winter out.'
It is neutral but leans slightly informal. It is perfectly acceptable in spoken and written English but might be replaced by more formal terms like 'escort to the door' or 'persist until the conclusion of' in very formal documents.
To stay with someone until they leave a place, or to remain in a position until a period of time has ended.
See out: in British English it is pronounced /siː ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /siː ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “See someone out (to the door)”
- “See something out (to the bitter end)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine you are a lighthouse (SEE) guiding a ship OUT of the harbour until it's safely gone. You stay until the departure is complete.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLETION IS A JOURNEY OUT (seeing something through to its exit point).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'see out' used INCORRECTLY?