Perceive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /pər-ˈsēv/ per·ceive

Meaning & Definition of Perceive

Perceive (verb)

  1. to attain awareness or understanding of
  2. to regard as being such
  3. to become aware of through the senses; especially, see, observe

Perceive (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have a vague awareness of

    "I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure"

    similar: feel, scent, see, sense, smell, taste
    related: behold, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, regard, remark, sight, spy, view, witness, ascertain, catch on (to), discover, find out, hear, learn, realize, anticipate, divine, expect, foreknow, foresee, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, speculate, suppose, surmise, suspect

  2. to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes

    "perceived that it was going to be a nice day"

    similar: behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, regard, remark, see, sight, spot, spy, view, witness, get a load of (slang), lay eyes on, set eyes on
    related: identify, make out, pick out, pick up, attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind, study, watch, examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey, glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)
    near: disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over, miss, overlook

  3. to have a clear idea of

    "I perceive your point, but I still disagree"

    similar: appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, behold, catch, catch on (to), cognize, compass, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, discern, get, grasp, grok, intuit, know, make, make out, recognize, register, savvy, see, seize, sense, tumble (to), twig, understand, pick up on
    related: absorb, digest, take in, realize, fathom, penetrate, pierce
    opposite: miss
    near: misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Perceive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Perceive:

Slang: get a load of
feel, scent, see, sense, smell, taste, behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, regard, remark, sight, spot, spy, view, witness, appreciate, apprehend, assimilate, catch on (to), cognize, compass, comprehend, conceive, cotton (to or on to), decipher, decode, dig, get, grasp, grok, intuit

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Perceive

Words with the opposite meaning of Perceive:

miss

Related Words for Perceive

ascertain, discover, find out, hear, learn, realize, anticipate, divine, expect, foreknow, foresee, assume, conjecture, guess, presume, speculate, suppose, surmise, suspect, identify, pick out, pick up, attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind, study, watch, examine

Near Antonyms of Perceive

disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over, overlook, misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand

Word Forms of Perceive

Inflections: perceived, perceiving, perceives

Derived words: perceivable (adjective), perceivably (adverb), perceiver (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Perceive

Middle English, from Anglo-French perceivre, from Latin percipere, from per- thoroughly + capere to take heave:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Perceive

Frequently Asked Questions about Perceive

What does "Perceive" mean?

"Perceive" means to attain awareness or understanding of. As a verb, it is defined as: to attain awareness or understanding of. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Perceive"?

Other words for "Perceive" include feel, scent, see, sense, smell, taste, behold and catch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Perceive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Perceive"?

There are 97 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Perceive". Common alternatives include feel, scent, see, sense, smell, taste, behold, catch, descry and discern.

What is the opposite of "Perceive"?

Antonyms of "Perceive" include miss. Near antonyms include disregard, ignore, neglect and overpass.

How do you use "Perceive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Perceive" in a sentence: "I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure"; "perceived that it was going to be a nice day"; "I perceive your point, but I still disagree".

Is "Perceive" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Perceive" is a verb.

Is "Perceive" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Perceive" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Perceive"?

"Perceive" is pronounced /pər-ˈsēv/ and divided into syllables as per·ceive.