Meaning & use

perceive

verb·Academic

To become aware of something through the senses, or to understand or interpret it in a certain way.

See it in a sentence

From the hilltop, she could perceive the faint outline of the coastline.

Many employees perceive the new policy as unfair to part-time workers.

A note on using this word

Perceive often introduces how something is understood or judged, not just physically seen or heard.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

overlookmiss

Make it your own

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