8 VERB [no cont] If you see something happening in the future, you imagine it, or predict that it will happen. □ [V n v-ing] A good idea, but can you see Taylor trying it? □ [V n] We can see a day where all people live side by side.
9 VERB [no passive] If a period of time or a person sees a particular change or event, it takes place during that period of time or while that person is alive. □ [V n] Yesterday saw the resignation of the acting Interior Minister. □ [V n inf] He had worked with the consultant for three years and was sorry to see him go. □ [V n -ed] Mr Frank has seen the economy of his town slashed by the uprising.
10 VERB You can use see in expressions to do with finding out information. For example, if you say ' I'll see what's happening ', you mean that you intend to find out what is happening. □ [V wh] Let me just see what the next song is. □ [V if] Shake him gently to see if he responds.
11 VERB You can use see to promise to try and help someone. For example, if you say ' I'll see if I can do it ', you mean that you will try to do the thing concerned. □ [V if] I'll see if I can call her for you. □ [V wh] We'll see what we can do, miss.
12 VERB If you see that something is done or if you see to it that it is done, you make sure that it is done. □ [V that] See that you take care of him. □ [V to it that] Catherine saw to it that the information went directly to Walter.
13 VERB If you see someone to a particular place, you accompany them to make sure that they get there safely, or to show politeness. □ [V n prep/adv] He didn't offer to see her to her car. □ [V n prep/adv] 'Goodnight.'—'I'll see you out.'
14 VERB If you see a lot of someone, you often meet each other or visit each other. □ [V amount + of ] We used to see quite a lot of his wife, Carolyn.
15 VERB If you are seeing someone, you spend time with them socially, and are having a romantic or sexual relationship. □ [V n] I was seeing her but I wasn't her committed boyfriend.
16 VERB Some writers use see in expressions such as we saw and as we have seen to refer to something that has already been explained or described. □ [V wh] We saw in Chapter 16 how annual cash budgets are produced. □ [V that] Using the figures given above, it can be seen that machine A pays back the initial investment in two years.
17 VERB See is used in books to indicate to readers that they should look at another part of the book, or at another book, because more information is given there. □ [V n] See Chapter 7 below for further comments on the textile industry.
18 PHRASE You can use seeing that or seeing as to introduce a reason for what you are saying. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □ Seeing as this man is a doctor, I would assume he has a modicum of intelligence.
19 CONVENTION You can say ' I see ' to indicate that you understand what someone is telling you. [SPOKEN , FORMULAE ] □ 'He came home in my car.'—'I see.'
20 CONVENTION People say ' I'll see ' or ' We'll see ' to indicate that they do not intend to make a decision immediately, and will decide later. □ We'll see. It's a possibility.
21 CONVENTION People say ' let me see ' or ' let's see ' when they are trying to remember something, or are trying to find something. □ Let's see, they're six–no, make that five–hours ahead of us. □ Now let me see, who's the man we want?
22 PHRASE If you try to make someone see sense or see reason , you try to make them realize that they are wrong or are being stupid. □ He was hopeful that by sitting together they could both see sense and live as good neighbours.
23 CONVENTION You can say ' you see ' when you are explaining something to someone, to encourage them to listen and understand. [SPOKEN ] □ Well, you see, you shouldn't really feel that way about it.
24 CONVENTION ' See you ', ' be seeing you ', and ' see you later ' are ways of saying goodbye to someone when you expect to meet them again soon. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN , FORMULAE ] □ 'Talk to you later.'—'All right. See you love.'
25 CONVENTION You can say ' You'll see ' to someone if they do not agree with you about what you think will happen in the future, and you believe that you will be proved right. □ The thrill wears off after a few years of marriage. You'll see.
26 to have seen better days → see day
27 to be seen dead → see dead
28 as far as the eye can see → see eye
29 to see eye to eye → see eye
30 as far as I can see → see far
31 to see fit → see fit ➊
32 to see red → see red
33 it remains to be seen → see remain
34 wait and see → see wait
▸ see about PHRASAL VERB When you see about something, you arrange for it to be done or provided. □ [V P n] Tony announced it was time to see about lunch. □ [V P v-ing] I must see about selling the house.
▸ see off
1 PHRASAL VERB If you see off an opponent, you defeat them. [BRIT ] □ [V P n] There is no reason why they cannot see off the Republican challenge. [Also V n P ]