Synonyms see
These words all mean to become aware of somebody/something by using your eyes, especially suddenly or when it is not easy to see them/it.
see to become aware of somebody/something by using your eyes: She looked for him but couldn’t see him in the crowd.
He could see (that) she had been crying.
spot to see or notice somebody/something, especially suddenly or when they are not easy to see or notice: I’ve just spotted a mistake on the front cover.
catch to see or notice something for a moment, but not clearly or completely: She caught sight of a car in the distance.
He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
glimpse (literary) to see somebody/something for a moment, but not clearly or completely: He’d glimpsed her through the window as he passed.
Patterns
to see/spot that/how/what/where/who…
to suddenly see/spot/glimpse somebody/something