/ siː; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( saw / sɔː; NAmE / seen / siːn; NAmE /)
USE EYES
1.
(not used in the progressive tenses) to become aware of sb/sth by using your eyes :
[ vn ]
She looked for him but couldn't see him in the crowd.
[ v ( that )]
He could see (that) she had been crying.
[ v wh- ]
Did you see what happened?
[ vn - adj ]
I hate to see you unhappy.
[ v , vn ]
The opera was the place to see and be seen (= by other important or fashionable people) .
[ vn -ing ]
She was seen running away from the scene of the crime.
[ vn inf ]
I saw you put the key in your pocket.
[ vn to inf ]
He was seen to enter the building about the time the crime was committed.
HELP NOTE : This pattern is only used in the passive.
2.
(not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have or use the power of sight :
[ v ]
She will never see again (= she has become blind) .
On a clear day you can see for miles from here.
[ v to inf ]
It was getting dark and I couldn't see to read.
WATCH
3.
[ vn ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to watch a game, television programme, performance, etc. :
Did you see that programme on Brazil last night?
In the evening we went to see a movie.
Fifty thousand people saw the match.
➡ note at look
LOOK UP INFORMATION
4.
[ vn ] (used in orders) to look at sth in order to find information :
See page 158.
MEET BY CHANCE
5.
[ vn ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be near and recognize sb; to meet sb by chance :
Guess who I saw at the party last night!
VISIT
6.
[ vn ] to visit sb :
Come and see us again soon.
HAVE MEETING
7.
[ vn ] see sb (about sth) to have a meeting with sb :
You ought to see a doctor about that cough.
What is it you want to see me about?
SPEND TIME
8.
[ vn ] (often used in the progressive tenses) to spend time with sb :
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.
UNDERSTAND
9.
(not usually used in the progressive tenses) to understand sth :
[ v ]
'It opens like this.' 'Oh, I see .'
[ vn ]
He didn't see the joke.
I don't think she saw the point of the story.
I can see both sides of the argument.
Make Lydia see reason (= be sensible) , will you?
[ v ( that )]
Can't you see (that) he's taking advantage of you?
I don't see that it matters what Josh thinks.
[ v wh- ]
'It's broken.' 'Oh yes, I see what you mean .'
'Can we go swimming?' ' I don't see why not (= yes, you can) .'
[ vn to inf ]
The government not only has to do something, it must be seen to be doing something (= people must be aware that it is doing sth) .
HELP NOTE : This pattern is only used with see in the passive.
➡ note at understand
HAVE OPINION
10.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have an opinion of sth :
I see things differently now.
Try to see things from her point of view.
Lack of money is the main problem, as I see it (= in my opinion) .
The way I see it , you have three main problems.
IMAGINE
11.
see sb/sth (as sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) to consider sth as a future possibility; to imagine sb/sth as sth :
[ vn -ing ]
I can't see her changing her mind.
[ vn ]
His colleagues see him as a future director.
➡ note at regard
FIND OUT
12.
(not usually used in the progressive tenses) to find out sth by looking, asking or waiting :
[ v ]
'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 .
[ v wh- ]
Go and see what the kids are doing, will you?
We'll have to see how it goes .
[ v ( that )]
I see (that) interest rates are going up again.
[ vn that ]
It can be seen that certain groups are more at risk than others.
13.
(not usually used in the progressive tenses) to find out or decide sth by thinking or considering :
[ v ]
'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) .
[ v wh- ]
I'll see what I can do to help.
MAKE SURE
14.
[ v that ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to make sure that you do sth or that sth is done :
See that all the doors are locked before you leave.
EXPERIENCE
15.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to experience or suffer sth :
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
16.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the time when an event happens :
Next year sees the centenary of Verdi's death.
17.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the place where an event happens
SYN witness :
This stadium has seen many thrilling football games.
HELP
18.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to go with sb to help or protect them :
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 .
- for all (the world) to see
- let me see / let's see
- see sth coming
- see for yourself
- see sb/sth for what they are / it is
- seeing that ...
- see you (around) | (I'll) be seeing you | see you later
- you see
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- see about sth
- see sth in sb/sth
- see sb off
- see sb out
- see sth out
- see over sth
- see through sb/sth
- see sth through
- see sb through | see sb through sth
- see to sth
- see to it that ...
■ noun
( formal ) the district or office of a bishop or an archbishop :
the Holy See (= the office of the Pope )
••
SYNONYMS
see
spot ♦ catch ♦ glimpse ♦ clap / lay / set eyes on
These words all mean to become aware of sb/sth by using your eyes, especially suddenly or when it is not easy to see them / it.
see
to become aware of sb/sth 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 sb/sth, 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 sth 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 sb/sth for a moment, but not clearly or completely:
He'd glimpsed her through the window as he passed.
clap / lay / set eyes on sb/sth
( informal ) (usually used in negative statements) to see sb / sth:
I haven't clapped eyes on them for weeks.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to see / spot that / how / what / where / who...
to suddenly see / spot / catch / glimpse sb/sth
can / could see
to fail to see / spot
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and idsym. pvsym. 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.