see

see1 [ si ] (past tense saw [ sɔ ] ; past participle seen [ sin ] ) verb ***

▸ 1 notice with eyes/look at

▸ 2 meet/visit someone

▸ 3 for more information

▸ 4 understand something

▸ 5 consider particular way

▸ 6 imagine someone/something

▸ 7 find something out

▸ 8 experience something

▸ 9 go with someone somewhere

▸ 10 bet same amount

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive never progressive to notice someone or something using your eyes:

She laughed when she saw the expression on his face.

see what/where/who: Did you see where I put my glasses?

see (that): I could see she was upset.

see someone/something doing something: Didn't you see him talking to her earlier?

a ) transitive to look at something in order to check it:

The border guard asked to see her passport.

b ) intransitive or transitive to be able to use your eyes to notice and recognize things:

If the operation is successful, he will be able to see again.

can't see a thing: She can't see a thing without her contact lenses.

see to do something: It was too dark to see to read.

c ) transitive to watch something such as a movie or television program:

We saw Hamlet performed by the University Dramatic Society last week.

Have you seen the movie American Beauty?

2. ) transitive to meet or visit someone you know by arrangement:

Are you seeing Jane tomorrow?

see you (=I'll meet you): See you at the station at 6 o'clock.

a ) transitive never progressive to meet someone you know by accident:

I saw David in town the other day.

b ) transitive to have a business or professional meeting with someone:

When can Mr. Martin see me?

see someone about something: She's seeing the doctor about her leg tomorrow.

c ) transitive to spend time with a friend or member of your family:

We still see each other a couple of times a month.

see more/less/a lot of someone: I've been seeing a lot of my sister recently.

d ) transitive to be visited by someone:

Peter still isn't well enough to see anyone.

3. ) transitive always in imperative used for saying where you can find more information:

See chapter 12.

see above/below (=nearer the beginning/end): This contributed to the success of the Republicans (see above).

4. ) intransitive or transitive never progressive to understand something:

I think I see the problem here.

see (that): No one could see he was to blame.

see why/what/who/how: I see why you're angry.

see what someone means: It's not fair to go without him. Yes, I see what you mean.

can't/don't see why/what/that: I can't see that it matters who does it.

He didn't see what all the fuss was about.

a ) I see SPOKEN used for showing that you are paying attention to what someone is saying and that you understand it:

You do it like this. I see.

b ) see? SPOKEN used for making sure that someone is paying attention to what you are saying and that they understand it:

You press this button first, see?

5. ) transitive to consider someone or something in a particular way:

see things differently (from someone): A scientist sees things differently from an artist.

see someone/something as something: This was seen as an attempt to fool the voters.

He seems to see me as a threat.

6. ) transitive never progressive to imagine someone or something:

see someone as something: Can you really see her as the president?

see someone/something doing something: I just can't see them winning the game.

see yourself: Where do you see yourself in five years'?

7. ) intransitive or transitive never progressive to find something out:

As we saw in Chapter 2, the reasons for the war were complex.

see (that): If you read his report, you'll see that he recommends a cautious approach.

see who/what/why: I'll go and see what he wants.

see if/whether: He went back to see whether they needed any help.

8. ) transitive never progressive to experience something:

This little girl has seen so much misery in her time.

a ) transitive if a place or a period of time sees an event, the event happens in that place or during that time:

The region has seen some of the fiercest fighting in the war.

9. ) transitive to go with someone because you want to make sure that they arrive somewhere:

see someone across the street: I'll see him across the street.

see someone home: Can I see you home?

see someone to the door (=when they leave a building): My secretary will see you to the door.

10. ) transitive in a card game, to BET the same amount of money as another player:

I'll see your 20 dollars.

1

a ) to bet the same money as another player and make them show their cards

as/the way someone sees it SPOKEN

according to someone's way of thinking about a situation:

As I see it, you have no choice.

be seeing someone

to be having a romantic or sexual relationship with someone:

Do you know whether he's seeing anybody these days?

be seeing things

to believe you see something when it is not really there

be seen to be doing something

to do something in a way that people will notice, because they want or expect you to do it

have seen it all before INFORMAL

to have experienced a lot of things or know about a lot of things, so that you are not shocked or surprised easily

I don't see why not SPOKEN

used for saying yes when someone asks for your permission:

Can Jason come too, Dad? I don't see why not.

(I'll) be seeing you SPOKEN

used for saying goodbye to someone you know, when you are not sure when you will see them again

I'll/we'll have to see SPOKEN

used for saying that you are not able to decide now:

How long can you stay? I'll have to see.

let me see/let's see SPOKEN

used for saying that you are thinking about something or trying to remember something:

It must have been, let me see, 10 years ago.

not see beyond the end of your nose

to think about yourself so much that you do not notice what is happening around you

now I've seen everything/it all SPOKEN

used for saying that you find something very shocking or surprising:

A child divorcing his parents? Now I've seen it all!

see the back of someone MAINLY BRITISH INFORMAL

to no longer have to deal with someone or something unpleasant:

She was glad to see the back of him.

see both sides

to understand both of the opinions or arguments in a situation

see something coming SPOKEN

to notice or realize that something is going to happen

see something coming (a mile away) SPOKEN

to realize that something is going to happen, even though other people may be trying to hide it from you

see someone/something for something

to realize what someone or something is really like, especially when this is worse than they appear to be:

I can now see him for the liar he really is.

He finally saw her for what she was.

see for yourself

to check what someone has told you by looking at it:

It's all gone see for yourself.

see how it goes/things go SPOKEN

used for saying that a decision about a situation will be made after allowing it to develop for a period of time

see if/whether you can do something SPOKEN

to try to do something:

I'll see if I can find out what he's up to.

see the last of

to never see someone or something again

see the light

to suddenly realize or understand something, usually in a way that improves your life:

Dad has finally seen the light and bought a computer.

see the light of day

to be available or shown to people in general:

It's one of many movies that never saw the light of day.

see reason/sense

to change a decision because you realize that you are wrong:

Maybe now they'll see reason and scrap the project.

see that someone does something/that something is done SPOKEN

to make sure that someone does something or that something happens:

Can you see that everything's ready in time?

see what someone is (really) made of

to find out how good or strong someone really is

see what you can do SPOKEN

to try to help:

Bring the car over tomorrow and I'll see what I can do.

see you SPOKEN

used for saying goodbye to someone you know when you expect to see them again soon

see you later SPOKEN

used for saying goodbye to someone you know when you expect to see them again soon, especially later the same day

see your way (clear) to do something SPOKEN

used when you are asking someone if they would be willing to do something:

Could you see your way clear to lending me $50?

seen against something

considered in relation to something:

Seen against this background, the decision should not surprise anyone.

we'll see SPOKEN

used for saying that you will decide later:

Can we go to the park this afternoon, Mom? We'll see.

you see SPOKEN

used when you are explaining something:

You see, Harry's coming this afternoon, so I can't come.

you'll see SPOKEN

used for telling someone that they will find out you are right about something:

It will be wonderful, you'll see.

=> DEAD1, EYE1, FOREST, RED 2

`see a,bout phrasal verb transitive

see about something to deal with or organize something:

I should go and see about this job.

see about doing something: Can you see about getting us a ride home?

a. we'll have to see about that SPOKEN used for saying that you are not able to decide now

b. we'll (soon) see about that SPOKEN used for saying that you are not going to let someone do something they are intending to do

,see a`round phrasal verb transitive

see someone around to notice someone often in places you go to regularly:

I've never actually met her, but I've seen her around.

a. see you around SPOKEN used for saying goodbye to someone when you are not sure when you will meet them again

`see in phrasal verb

1. ) transitive see something in someone/something to recognize a particular quality in someone or something:

I thought I saw a glimmer of sympathy in Ben's eyes.

a ) not know what someone sees in someone SPOKEN to not understand why one person finds another person attractive or likes them:

I don't know what you see in him, I think he's boring.

2. ) transitive see someone in to welcome a visitor to a building and take them to where they want to go:

The ambassador waited on the steps to see the visiting dignitaries in.

3. ) intransitive to see the inside of a building through a window or open door:

People can see in from the street.

see in the New Year

to celebrate the beginning of a year by staying awake until midnight

,see `off phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to go somewhere such as a station or airport with someone in order to say goodbye to them:

Anne saw Terry off at the station.

2. ) to make someone go away or leave a place, especially by chasing them:

The dogs will soon see off any burglars.

3. ) to deal successfully with someone or something, especially by defeating them easily:

She managed to see off the challenge of her French opponent.

,see `out phrasal verb transitive

1. ) see someone out to go with someone to the door when they are leaving in order to say goodbye to them:

My secretary will see you out.

a ) see yourself out to find your way out of a place you are visiting without help:

I can see myself out.

2. ) to continue to the end of a period of time or an activity:

He will see out the year remaining on his contract.

3. ) see someone out if something sees you out, it lasts longer than the time you live:

These are good strong shoes and they'll probably see me out.

see out the Old Year

to celebrate the end of a year

,see `through phrasal verb transitive

1. ) see through something to recognize that something is not true and not be tricked by it:

We can all see through your little game, Adam.

a ) see through someone to realize what someone is really like or what they are really doing and not be tricked by them:

I'm not fooled that easily. I can see right through you.

2. ) see something through to continue doing something until it is finished, especially something unpleasant or difficult:

Having come this far, she was determined to see things through.

3. ) see someone through (something) to make it possible for someone to continue to the end of something, especially something unpleasant or difficult:

They had enough food to see them through the winter.

`see to phrasal verb transitive

see to something to deal with or take charge of someone or something:

You try to get some sleep, I'll see to the children's breakfast.

have/get something seen to: You'd better take her to the hospital and get her ankle seen to.

see to it that: I should have seen to it that she was told.

see

see 2 [ si ] noun count TECHNICAL

an area for which a BISHOP or ARCHBISHOP is responsible