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