# see

/ˈsi/ (US) · /sˈiː/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/see
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to use your eyes to look at something or someone. You also use this word when you understand an idea or meet a person.

For teachers: to perceive with the eyes; to witness or experience an event. Often used to indicate comprehension or the act of meeting someone socially.

## Examples

- I can see the mountains from my window.
- If you look closely at the chart, you will see that sales increased last month.
- While many observers could see the immediate effects of the policy, few were able to foresee the long-term structural changes it would eventually trigger in the local economy.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am seeing a bird right now." but "I see a bird right now." — When 'see' refers to the physical ability to perceive with eyes, it is a stative verb and is not usually used in the continuous tense.

## Usage notes

- The verb is often used in the progressive form ('I am seeing') only when it means 'meeting' or 'dating', not for physical perception.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.