see (sees 3rd person present) (seeing present participle) (saw past tense) (seen past participle )
1 verb When you see something, you notice it using your eyes.
no cont
You can't see colours at night... V n
I saw a man making his way towards me... V n -ing
She can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste... V
As he neared the farm, he saw that a police car was parked outside it... V that
Did you see what happened? V wh
2 verb If you see someone, you visit them or meet them.
Mick wants to see you in his office right away... V n
You need to see a doctor. V n
3 verb If you see an entertainment such as a play, film, concert, or sports game, you watch it.
no cont
(=watch)
He had been to see a Semi-Final of the FA Cup... V n
It was one of the most amazing films I've ever seen. V n
4 verb If you see that something is true or exists, you realize by observing it that it is true or exists.
no cont
I could see she was lonely. V that
...a lot of people saw what was happening but did nothing about it... V wh
You see young people going to school inadequately dressed for the weather... V n -ing
My taste has changed a bit over the years as you can see... V
The army must be seen to be taking firm action. be V-ed to-inf
5 verb If you see what someone means or see why something happened, you understand what they mean or understand why it happened.
no cont, no passive
(=understand)
Oh, I see what you're saying... V wh
I really don't see any reason for changing it... V n
Now I see that I was wrong. V that
6 verb If you see someone or something as a certain thing, you have the opinion that they are that thing.
She saw him as a visionary, but her father saw him as a man who couldn't make a living... V n as n/-ing
Others saw it as a betrayal... V it as n
I don't see it as my duty to take sides... V it as n to-inf
As I see it, Llewelyn has three choices open to him... V it
Women are sometimes seen to be less effective as managers. be V-ed to-inf
7 verb If you see a particular quality in someone, you believe they have that quality. If you ask what someone seesin a particular person or thing, you want to know what they find attractive about that person or thing.
no cont, no passive
Frankly, I don't know what Paul sees in her... V n in n
Young and old saw in him an implacable opponent of apartheid. V in n n
8 verb If you see something happening in the future, you imagine it, or predict that it will happen.
no cont
(=imagine)
A good idea, but can you see Taylor trying it?... V n -ing
We can see a day where all people live side by side. V n
9 verb If a period of time or a person sees a particular change or event, it takes place during that period of time or while that person is alive.
no passive
Yesterday saw the resignation of the acting Interior Minister... V n
He had worked with the General for three years and was sorry to see him go... V n inf
Mr Frank has seen the economy of his town slashed by the uprising. V n -ed
10 verb You can use see in expressions to do with finding out information. For example, if you say `I'll see what's happening', you mean that you intend to find out what is happening.
Let me just see what the next song is... V wh
Shake him gently to see if he responds. V wh
11 verb You can use see to promise to try and help someone. For example, if you say `I'll see if I can do it', you mean that you will try to do the thing concerned.
I'll see if I can call her for you... V if
We'll see what we can do, miss. V wh
12 verb If you seethat something is done or if you seeto it that it is done, you make sure that it is done.
See that you take care of him... V that
Catherine saw to it that the information went directly to Walter. V to it that
13 verb If you see someone to a particular place, you accompany them to make sure that they get there safely, or to show politeness.
He didn't offer to see her to her car... V n prep/adv
`Goodnight.'—`I'll see you out.' V n prep/adv
14 verb If you see a lot of someone, you often meet each other or visit each other.
We used to see quite a lot of his wife, Carolyn... V amount of n
15 verb If you are seeing someone, you spend time with them socially, and are having a romantic or sexual relationship.
My husband was still seeing her and he was having an affair with her. V n
16 verb Some writers use see in expressions such as we saw and as we have seen to refer to something that has already been explained or described.
We saw in Chapter 16 how annual cash budgets are produced... V wh
Using the figures given above, it can be seen that machine A pays back the initial investment in two years... V that
17 verb See is used in books to indicate to readers that they should look at another part of the book, or at another book, because more information is given there.
only imper
See Chapter 7 below for further comments on the textile industry. V n
18 You can use seeing that or seeing as to introduce a reason for what you are saying.
(mainly BRIT)
INFORMAL, SPOKEN
seeing as/that phrase CONJ SUBORD
(=since)
Seeing as Mr Moreton is a doctor, I would assume he has a modicum of intelligence.
19 You can say `I see ' to indicate that you understand what someone is telling you.
SPOKEN
I see convention
(formulae)
`He came home in my car.'—`I see.'
20 People say `I'll see' or `We'll see' to indicate that they do not intend to make a decision immediately, and will decide later.
I'll/we'll see convention
We'll see. It's a possibility.
21 People say `let me see' or `let's see' when they are trying to remember something, or are trying to find something.
let me/let's see convention
Let's see, they're six<endash10001no, make that five hours ahead of us..., Now let me see, who's the man we want?
22 If you try to make someone see sense or see reason, you try to make them realize that they are wrong or are being stupid.
see sense/reason phrase V inflects
He was hopeful that by sitting together they could both see sense and live as good neighbours...
23 You can say `you see' when you are explaining something to someone, to encourage them to listen and understand.
SPOKEN
you see convention
Well, you see, you shouldn't really feel that way about it...
24 `See you', `be seeing you', and `see you later' are ways of saying goodbye to someone when you expect to meet them again soon.
INFORMAL, SPOKEN
see you convention
(formulae)
(=bye)
`Talk to you later.'—`All right. See you love.'
25 You can say `You'll see' to someone if they do not agree with you about what you think will happen in the future, and you believe that you will be proved right.
you'll see convention
The thrill wears off after a few years of marriage. You'll see.
26
→
to have seen better days
→
day
→
to be seen dead
→
dead
→
as far as the eye can see
→
eye
→
to see eye to eye
→
eye
→
as far as I can see
→
far
→
to see fit
→
fit
→
to see red
→
red
→
it remains to be seen
→
remain
→
wait and see
→
wait see about phrasal verb When you see about something, you arrange for it to be done or provided.
Tony announced it was time to see about lunch... V P n/-ing
I must see about selling the house. V P n/-ing see off
1 phrasal verb If you see off an opponent, you defeat them.
(BRIT)
There is no reason why they cannot see off the Republican challenge. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
2 phrasal verb When you see someone off, you go with them to the station, airport, or port that they are leaving from, and say goodbye to them there.
Ben had planned a steak dinner for himself after seeing Jackie off on her plane. V n P see through phrasal verb If you see through someone or their behaviour, you realize what their intentions are, even though they are trying to hide them.
I saw through your little ruse from the start. V P n
→
see-through see to phrasal verb If you see to something that needs attention, you deal with it.
While Franklin saw to the luggage, Sara took Eleanor home. V P n
