Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
perceive [per-seev] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for perceive on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), per·ceived, per·ceiv·ing.
- to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses: I perceived an object looming through the mist.
- to recognize, discern, envision, or understand: I perceive a note of sarcasm in your voice. This is a nice idea but I perceive difficulties in putting it into practice.
Origin of perceive 1250–1300; Middle English perceiven Anglo-French *perceivre, for perçoivre Latin percipere to lay hold of, grasp, equivalent to per- per- + -cipere, combining form of capere to takeRelated formsper·ceiv·ed·ly [per-see-vid-lee, -seevd-] /pərˈsi vɪd li, -ˈsivd-/, adverbper·ceiv·ed·ness, nounper·ceiv·er, nounper·ceiv·ing·ness, nounnon·per·ceiv·ing, adjectivere·per·ceive, verb (used with object), re·per·ceived, re·per·ceiv·ing.self-per·ceiv·ing, adjectiveun·per·ceived, adjectiveun·per·ceiv·ing, adjectivewell-per·ceived, adjectiveSynonyms for perceive See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com 1. note, discover, observe, descry, distinguish. See notice. Related Words for perceive feel, recognize, regard, grasp, observe, identify, distinguish, realize, discern, appreciate, comprehend, see, read, know, spy, remark, look, seize, apprehend, mind Examples from the Web for perceive Contemporary Examples of perceive
People always have to perceive the problems before them, including many unexpected nuances, and decide how to handle them.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
On the other hand, patients may not perceive much downside to taking the medications, even if they may not help much.
Without Education, Antibiotic Resistance Will Be Our Greatest Health Crisis
Russell Saunders
December 19, 2014
They still saw white policemen killing unarmed African Americans in what they perceive as cold blood and without repercussions.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence
Ben Jacobs
December 13, 2014
They want Americans to perceive Washington as broken, especially heading into 2016.
Inside the Democrats’ Godawful Midterm Election Wipeout
Michael Tomasky
November 5, 2014
It becomes a hapless gesture of uninformed social media departments who perceive the potential of engagement without consequences.
Jameis Winston’s Inevitable #epicfail
Gideon Resnick
August 11, 2014
Historical Examples of perceive
I cannot perceive that our own comprehension of it is at all essential to the matter.
The Hall of Fantasy (From “Mosses From An Old Manse”)
Nathaniel Hawthorne
And Buck was just sober enough to perceive that he was being held lightly.
Max Brand
We perceive God through the soul as we feel air on the body.
Basil King
The more we perceive of power the more we are freed from fear.
Basil King
I perceive in your eyes, my indulgent spectators, the criticism which you are too kind to utter.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
British Dictionary definitions for perceive perceive verb
- to become aware of (something) through the senses, esp the sight; recognize or observe
- (tr; may take a clause as object) to come to comprehend; grasp
Derived Formsperceivable, adjectiveperceivability, nounperceivably, adverbperceiver, nounWord Origin for perceive C13: from Old French perçoivre, from Latin percipere seize entirely, from per- (thoroughly) + capere to grasp Word Origin and History for perceive v.
c.1300, via Anglo-French parceif, Old North French *perceivre (Old French perçoivre) “perceive, notice, see; recognize, understand,” from Latin percipere “obtain, gather, seize entirely, take possession of,” also, figuratively, “to grasp with the mind, learn, comprehend,” literally “to take entirely,” from per “thoroughly” (see per) + capere “to grasp, take” (see capable).
Replaced Old English ongietan. Both the Latin senses were in Old French, though the primary sense of Modern French percevoir is literal, “to receive, collect” (rents, taxes, etc.), while English uses the word almost always in the metaphorical sense. Related: Perceived; perceiving.
perceive in Medicine perceive [pər-sēv′] v.
- To become aware of directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing.
- To achieve understanding of; apprehend.
Related formsper•ceiv′a•ble adj.