Word
seeing
Phoneticssee·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsiɪŋ/
UK/sˈiːɪŋ/
Definitions
01because or since
B1 · Intermediate
conj. you use this to give a reason for something, especially when you have just noticed a fact.
conj. used as a subordinating conjunction to introduce a statement that explains or justifies a following action or decision.
“Seeing it's such a nice day, why don't we walk to the park?”
“Seeing that the primary witness has failed to appear, the judge has little choice but to grant a further adjournment.”
Usage
Often followed by 'that', though 'that' is frequently omitted in speech.
Pitfall
Seeing that it's raining, so we should stay.
Seeing that it's raining, we should stay.
Do not use 'so' after 'seeing that'; the first clause already establishes the reason.
Synonyms
02the act of looking
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of looking at or noticing something with your eyes.
n. the process or instance of visual perception.
“For many people, seeing is believing.”
“The sudden seeing of the mountain peak through the clouds provided the hikers with a much-needed boost in morale.”
Synonyms
03astronomical clarity
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. how clear and steady an image looks through a telescope, depending on the air.
n. the quality of the observing conditions as affected by the turbulence of the Earth's atmosphere.
“The seeing was poor tonight because of the high winds and heat.”
“Astronomers prefer high-altitude observatories where the seeing is consistently stable, allowing for high-resolution imaging of distant galaxies.”
Usage
Usually uncountable in this technical context.
Synonyms
04having sight
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having the ability to see; not blind.
adj. possessing the faculty of vision; often used in compound phrases.
Español:vidente
“The charity provides seeing eye dogs for people who have lost their vision.”
“The exhibition was designed to be accessible to both seeing and non-seeing visitors through the use of tactile displays.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “seeing” in context.
Real-World Examples
“He's a Moroccan man in his twenties and wants to emigrate to Europe - not least because he's been seeing lots of videos on Instagram that make the trip look easy.” “We weren’t just robbed of the opportunity of seeing our favourite bands in the flesh.” “The flight attendants reported “hearing and feeling a loud continuous vibration and seeing a small amount of fog/smoke before the oxygen masks dropped”, the report found.” “We’re seeing lots of people who feel very dizzy, some of whom have fallen over and hurt themselves as a consequence.” Etymology
From see + -ing.
Probably an elision of "seeing that" or "seeing as".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
CONJUNCTION
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/seeing
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0