seeing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (for conjunction use), B1 (for gerund/noun use)Neutral to formal (conjunction use); Neutral (gerund/noun use).
Quick answer
What does “seeing” mean?
The act or experience of perceiving through the eyes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or experience of perceiving through the eyes; the sense of sight being used.
Used to form clauses meaning 'considering that', 'in view of the fact that', or 'as long as'. Also used figuratively to mean understanding or gaining insight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor, primarily in perception of formality. The conjunctive use is somewhat more established and slightly less formal in British English.
Connotations
In both varieties, the conjunctive use can sound slightly old-fashioned or literary.
Frequency
The conjunctive use is low frequency in informal speech in both varieties, but appears in writing.
Grammar
How to Use “seeing” in a Sentence
Seeing (that) + clause (conjunction)Verb + seeing (gerund as object)Be + seeing + object (progressive tense)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seeing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I haven't been seeing well lately; I think I need new specs.
- She's been seeing a therapist for a few months now.
American English
- I'm seeing spots after that bright flash.
- They've been seeing each other for about a year.
adjective
British English
- The seeing conditions were poor due to the fog.
- A seeing-eye guide dog is a remarkable companion.
American English
- Telescopic seeing was excellent last night.
- He trained with a seeing-eye dog.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"Seeing the recent market trends, we should adjust our strategy." Used to introduce rationale.
Academic
"Seeing that the data was normally distributed, parametric tests were applied." Used in formal argumentation.
Everyday
"I love seeing my friends at the weekend."
Technical
Rare. Primarily in optics/vision science as a gerund: "The process of seeing involves complex neural pathways."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seeing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seeing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seeing”
- *I am seeing you tomorrow (unless romantic/dating context). Correct: I am meeting/going to see you tomorrow.
- Using 'seeing' as a present simple verb for arranged future: *'I see the dentist at 5.' Correct: 'I am seeing/going to see the dentist at 5.'
- Overusing the conjunctive form in informal speech where 'because' or 'as' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but with restrictions. 'I am seeing the doctor tomorrow' is correct because 'see' is a dynamic verb here (an appointment). For simple future plans, 'going to see' is more common. Avoid *'I see you tomorrow'.
They are essentially synonymous and both function as conjunctions meaning 'because' or 'since'. 'Seeing as' is slightly more informal. 'Seeing as how' is also used but is considered more colloquial.
No. While 'seeing someone' often means dating, it is also used for regular appointments (seeing a doctor/therapist/client) and for perceiving ('I'm seeing spots'). Context is key.
It is moderately formal or literary. In everyday spoken English, 'since', 'as', or 'because' are more frequent. 'Seeing that/as' is perfectly correct and common in written and formal spoken English.
The act or experience of perceiving through the eyes.
Seeing: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsiː.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsiː.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Seeing is believing”
- “Seeing the light”
- “Seeing eye to eye”
- “Seeing red”
- “I'll be seeing you”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SEE + ING. It's what your eyes are DO-ING. As a conjunction, 'seeing' introduces what you 'see' (understand) as a reason.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (e.g., "I see what you mean").
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'seeing' used as a conjunction?