see to notice something with your eyes, usually without planning to. Also used when saying that you watched a particular programme, film, game etc:
Have you seen my keys anywhere? Did you see the basketball game last night?look at somebody/something to keep your eyes pointed toward someone or something, especially someone or something that is not moving:
I looked at the map. She was looking at him in a strange way.notice to see something interesting or unusual:
I noticed a police car outside their house.spot to suddenly see something, especially something you are looking for:
Nick spotted the advertisement in the paper.catch sight of/catch a glimpse of (
also glimpse formal) to suddenly see someone or something for a short time, usually not clearly:
I caught sight of him in the hotel lobby, and followed him out the door. He glimpsed her face as she went into the courtroom.make out somebody/something to see something, but only with difficulty:
Ahead, I could just make out the figure of a woman.witness to see something happen, especially a crime or an accident:
The police are asking anyone who witnessed the attack to come forward.observe formal to see and pay attention to something:
Officers observed him driving at 100 mph.sight especially written to suddenly see something or someone from a long distance, especially when you have been looking for a long time:
The missing boys were sighted by a rescue helicopter. The crew finally sighted land.blind unable to see anything:
She has been blind from birth.partially-sighted not able to see things very well, although not completely blind:
Good lighting can be very important for partially sighted people.visually handicapped/impaired completely blind or not able to see very much – used especially in official reports, forms etc:
a special school for visually impaired children [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲