perceive

verb

pur-SEEV/pɚˈsiv/UKpuh-SEEV/pəˈsiːv/

Formsperceives, perceiving, perceived

2 meanings of perceive

Practice

1
verbtransitive
To become aware of something through the senses, especially sight, or to come to understand it.
Drivers must perceive hazards quickly in order to react in time.
She perceived a change in his tone the moment he spoke.
Similarnotice, detect, discern, sense, spot
Oppositeoverlook, miss
2
verbtransitive
To interpret something in a particular way, forming a judgment about how it seems to you.
Voters perceived the new policy as a threat to their savings.
Different cultures perceive time in very different ways.
Similarsee, regard, view, interpret, consider

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Origin

From Middle English perceyven, borrowed from Old French percevoir, from Latin percipiō (past participle perceptus, 'to take hold of, obtain, receive, observe'), which combines per ('by, through') with capiō ('to take'). It is related to conceive, deceive, and receive.