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# see

verb (see, sees, saw, seen, seeing); in casual speech «see» also as «seen» for «saw» (nonstandard: «I seen it»)

«see» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To see is to notice something with your eyes: I see a bird. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m1)
2. To see is to understand: I see what you mean. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m2)
3. To see someone is to meet or visit them: see the doctor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m3)
4. To see is to find out: Let's see what happens. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m4)
5. «See you» means goodbye, I'll meet you again. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m5)
6. To see someone (casual) is to go out with them as a boyfriend or girlfriend: «Is she seeing anyone?». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m6)
7. To see to something is to take care of it: «I'll see to the dishes». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m7)
8. «See ya», «see ya later», «laters» (slang) are short ways to say goodbye. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m8)
9. «See?» or «See!» (casual, often rude) means «I told you so». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m9)
10. (formal) «See» in a book or exam means «look at that part»: «see page 4», «see below»; formal writing prefers «observe» and «it can be seen that». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#m10)

### In the lessons

what is on the table now («What do you see on the table?» = list what is there after all the changes); in science observing («What did you see when you mixed them?»); in everyday life «See you later», «Let me see», «see a film»; in casual talk «see ya», «seen it», «see what I mean?», «you'll see», «wait and see»; in rough talk «See? Told ya» and «I'll see you outside» (a threat to fight, take it seriously and tell an adult); in the exam voice «as can be seen from the table», «observe that», «see Figure 2»; in safety «see and be seen» (wear bright clothes at night)

### Examples

- What do you see on the table? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x1)
- Max sees 6 birds on a tree and 3 birds on the ground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x2)
- Anna saw 12 cars in the morning and 5 in the afternoon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x3)
- Can you see the moon tonight? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x4)
- I see! Now I understand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x5)
- I'm going to see my grandma on Sunday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x6)
- See ya tomorrow, mate! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x7)
- See? Told ya it was 12, not 10. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x8)
- I seen him take 3 biscuits (nonstandard: «I saw»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x9)
- Mum says she'll see to the washing-up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x10)
- As can be seen from the table, the aggregate number of birds observed was 9. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x11)
- Wear something bright so drivers can see you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x12)
- "I have never seen you before." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/#x13)

### Note

Carries no operation clue; to answer «what do you see», list what is there now, after all the changes. Trap: «sees 6 here and 3 there» gives two parts, often to add. Past «saw», past participle «seen»; «I seen it» is common in casual talk but wrong in school writing. «See you outside» from an angry kid is a threat, not a goodbye. «Observe» in an exam means the same as «see» or «notice». Do not mix «see» with «sea» (the ocean): they sound the same.

## In Jewish tradition

"God saw the children of Israel" means God paid attention to their suffering and was about to save them. Habakkuk's "burden which the prophet did see" means a message God showed him in a vision.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis read God's seeing as His care and concern, not just looking. Seeing the wonders in Egypt is a reason to be loyal to God. The prophets are called seers because they "see" God's word.

### Examples

- and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; (Torah GEN.28.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/#x1)
- And God saw the children of Israel, and God took cognizance of them. (Torah EXO.2.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/#x2)
- the great trials which thine eyes saw, the signs and those great wonders; (Torah DEU.29.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/#x3)
- What will ye see in the Shulammite? (Writings SNG.7.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/#x4)
- And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. (Prophets JER.3.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/#x5)
- THE BURDEN which Habakkuk the prophet did see. (Prophets HAB.1.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/#x6)

### Note

Carries no operation clue; to answer «what do you see», list what is there now, after all the changes. Trap: «sees 6 here and 3 there» gives two parts, often to add. Past «saw», past participle «seen»; «I seen it» is common in casual talk but wrong in school writing. «See you outside» from an angry kid is a threat, not a goodbye. «Observe» in an exam means the same as «see» or «notice». Do not mix «see» with «sea» (the ocean): they sound the same.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «see» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/see/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«see» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/see.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «see» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/see/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«see» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/see.html) on Mova free.