see

see

/siː/

use eyes

see somebody/something She looked for him but couldn't see him in the crowd.

I looked out of the window but saw nothing.

The opera was the place to see and be seen (= by other important or fashionable people).

I would like to see some proof of this statement.

The divers reported seeing a lot of sharks.

He recalls seeing his father sitting at the kitchen table.

I've never seen anything like this!

see (that)… He could see (that) she had been crying.

see what, how, etc… Did you see what happened?

If you watch carefully, you’ll see how it is done.

see somebody/something + adj. I hate to see you unhappy.

see somebody/something doing something She was seen running away from the scene of the crime.

see somebody/something do something I saw you put the key in your pocket.

somebody/something is seen to do something He was seen to enter the building about the time the crime was committed.

(figurative) The government not only has to do something, it must be seen to be doing something (= people must be aware that it is doing something).

see + adv./prep. The walls were too high to see over.

Collocations

adverb

verb + see

preposition

into

phrases

get a/​the chance to see

get an/​the opportunity to see

have a/​the chance to see

She will never see again (= she has become blind).

On a clear day you can see for miles from here.

see to do something It was getting dark and I couldn't see to read.

I could hardly see because of the smoke.

watch

see something Did you see that programme on Brazil last night?

In the evening we went to see a movie.

Fifty thousand people saw the match.

I finally got to see them in concert.

I really want to see this film now.

This performance was very beautiful, like nothing I had ever seen before.

I remember seeing that movie when I was a kid.

see something on something It's not the sort of thing you see on TV that often.

This film really deserves to be seen on a big screen.

look up/ask for information

see something/somebody See page 158.

If you missed the session, see a member of staff for advice.

See Table 2 for details.

See also paragraphs 6.5 to 6.9 above.

see + adv./prep. See above/below for a breakdown of the costs.

See over (= the next page) for details.

meet by chance

Guess who I saw at the party last night!

Aren't you pleased to see me?

It's so good to see you!

visit

Come and see us again soon.

Around 200  000 visitors each year come to see the summer palace.

Collocations

verb + see

come to

come around to

come over to…

preposition

about

have meeting

see somebody about something You ought to see a doctor about that cough.

What is it you want to see me about?

see somebody I can only see you for five minutes.

spend time

Are you seeing anyone (= having a romantic relationship with anyone)?

They've been seeing a lot of each other (= spending a lot of time together) recently.

We haven't seen much of Liz lately.

He has changed since his family last saw him.

understand

‘It opens like this.’ ‘Oh, I see.’

see something He didn't see the joke.

I don't think she saw the point of the story.

He changed the way we see the world around us.

to see a/the need for something

I see no need to involve the law.

I can see both sides of the argument.

They saw nothing wrong with having three cars.

Make Lydia see reason (= be sensible), will you?

see (that)… Can’t you see (that) he’s taking advantage of you?

I don't see that it matters what Josh thinks.

see what, why, etc… ‘It's broken.’ ‘Oh yes, I see what you mean.’

‘Can we go swimming?’ ‘I don't see why not (= yes, you can).’

They will be able to see what really happened there.

have opinion

I see things differently now.

Try to see things from her point of view.

The way I see it, you have three main problems.

As far as I can see (= in my opinion), you've done nothing wrong.

Lack of money is the main problem, as I see it (= in my opinion).

She is in love with him but Darren sees their relationship in a different light (= has a different opinion).

imagine

see somebody/something/yourself doing something I can't see her changing her mind.

I can't really see myself working in a lab all day.

see somebody/something/yourself as something His colleagues see him as a future director.

She was quiet and withdrawn and never saw herself as a dancer.

find out

‘Has the mail come yet?’ ‘I'll just go and see.’

‘Is he going to get better?’ ‘I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see.’

We'll have a great time, you'll see.

see what, how, etc… Go and see what the kids are doing, will you?

We'll have to see how it goes.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

see (that)… I see (that) interest rates are going up again.

it is seen that… It can be seen that certain groups are more at risk than others.

‘Will you be able to help us?’ ‘I don't know, I'll have to see.’

‘Can I go to the party?’ ‘We'll see (= I'll decide later).’

see what, whether, etc… I'll see what I can do to help.

make sure

See that all the doors are locked before you leave.

Could you see that the kids are in bed by 8 o'clock?

experience

He has seen a great deal in his long life.

I hope I never live to see the day when computers finally replace books.

It didn't surprise her—she had seen it all before.

witness event

Next year sees the centenary of Saint-Saëns' death.

The twentieth century saw dramatic changes in most areas of life.

This stadium has seen many thrilling football games.

help

I saw the old lady across (= helped her cross) the road.

May I see you home (= go with you as far as your house)?

My secretary will see you out (= show you the way out of the building).

Idioms

Most idioms containing see are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example not see the wood for the trees is at wood. 

​that can be seen clearly; in a way that can be seen clearly

​(informal) used when you are thinking or trying to remember something

Now let me see—how old is she now?

​to realize that there is going to be a problem before it happens

We should have seen it coming. There was no way he could keep going under all that pressure.

​to realize that somebody/something is not as good, pleasant, etc. as they/it seem

​to find out or look at something yourself in order to be sure that what somebody is saying is true

If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself!

(also informal seeing as (how)…)

​because of the fact that…

Seeing that he's been off sick all week he's unlikely to come.

​(informal) goodbye

I'd better be going now. See you!

​(informal) used when you are explaining something

You see, the thing is, we won't be finished before Friday.

Phrasal Verbs

see

/siː/

(formal)

​the district or office of a bishop or an archbishop

the Holy See (= the office of the Pope)

Word Origin

verb Old English sēon, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zien and German sehen, perhaps from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sequi ‘follow’.

noun Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French sed, from Latin sedes ‘seat’, from sedere ‘sit’.