Better Words for See, Look, Watch, or Survey

Overview

See/Look/Watch/Survey: in general, these verbs mean to perceive with the eyes

See: is the most general form of ‘to perceive with the eyes’

Look: to perceive by directing the eyes at something or in a particular direction

Watch: to view with interest; to use the eyes to follow and observe, typically to learn

Survey: to appraise or inspect something in detail with the idea of making a mental picture of the whole

TO SEE

  • Catch sight of
  • Contemplate
  • Discern
  • Discover
  • Distinguish
  • Eye
  • Fix the eyes upon
  • Gaze
  • Get a glimpse of
  • Glance round
  • Glance over
  • Glare
  • Gloat
  • Goggle
  • Leer
  • Lift up the eyes
  • Look
  • Look askance
  • Make out
  • Notice
  • Note
  • Ogle
  • Perceive
  • Pore over
  • Recognize
  • Regard
  • Remark
  • Rivet the eyes upon
  • Run the eyes over
  • Scan
  • See
  • Set eyes on
  • Sight
  • Spot
  • Spy
  • Squint
  • Stare
  • Stare
  • Survey
  • View
  • Watch

TO LOOK

  • Attend
  • Behold
  • Cast the eyes over
  • Consider
  • Eye
  • Fix the eyes on
  • Gape
  • Gawk
  • Gaze
  • Glance
  • Glare
  • Glimpse
  • Gloat
  • Heed
  • Look
  • Look at
  • Look on
  • Mark
  • Notice
  • Pay attention
  • Peek
  • Peep
  • Peer
  • Regard
  • Remark
  • Skim
  • Stare
  • Take notice
  • View

TO WATCH

  • Audit
  • Determine
  • Discover
  • Find
  • Find out
  • Keep in sight
  • Keep watch
  • Make out
  • Mount guard
  • Pry
  • Reconnoiter
  • Study closely
  • Watch

TO SURVEY

  • Assess
  • Examine
  • Inspect
  • Look over closely
  • Observe
  • Oversee  
  • Review 
  • Scan
  • Scrutinize
  • Survey
  • Take stock of