sight
sight — noun
1. the physical power to detect light and shapes through your eyes, letting you kno
the physical power to detect light and shapes through your eyes, letting you know what is around you.
Olivia's sight began to weaken after years of reading small print at work.
possessive 's sight + collocation: sight weakens
The doctor said the surgery could restore some of the sight in his left eye.
restore sight; in [body part] eye
Bats rely on hearing rather than sight to find their way in the dark.
rather than sight — contrast with another sense
Anong found it difficult to adjust after losing his sight following a stroke at sixty-two.
- lose your sight
- poor sight
- good sight
- 20/20 sight
- sight loss
- vision
more formal than sight; often used in medical or technical contexts
- eyesight
the everyday word for the quality of one's ability to see
- perception
broader — includes interpretation by the brain, not just the physical act
- blindness
total loss of sight
Usage Note
Uncountable — do not say 'a sight' when referring to the ability itself. 'A sight' belongs to sense 2.
Common Mistakes
2. a person, thing, or scene that you can see with your eyes, or the distance over
a person, thing, or scene that you can see with your eyes, or the distance over which things are visible.
From the top of the hill, the whole valley was a breathtaking sight.
countable: a [adjective] sight
The ship slowly disappeared from sight as it sailed toward the horizon.
collocation: from sight / out of sight
Diya caught sight of a deer standing motionless near the edge of the woods.
fixed phrase: catch sight of
You must keep the children in sight while they are at the swimming pool.
prepositional phrase: in sight
A strange sight greeted the hikers when they reached the mountain cabin.
- catch sight of
- lose sight of
- come into sight
- disappear from sight
- within sight
- at the sight of
Usage Note
Common in fixed prepositional phrases: 'in sight' (visible), 'out of sight' (not visible), 'within sight of' (close enough to see). When uncountable, refers to the range of vision rather than a specific thing seen.
Common Mistakes
3. the experience of seeing someone or something, especially upon an initial encoun
the experience of seeing someone or something, especially upon an initial encounter or after an extended search.
Their first sight of the ocean filled the children with excitement.
possessive + first sight of [something]
The rescue team cheered at the sight of the missing climbers alive and well.
at the sight of [someone/something]
Hamza knew her immediately at first sight when she walked into the café.
idiom: at first sight
I cannot stand the sight of blood, so I always look away during injections.
- at first sight
- at the sight of
- love at first sight
- the sight of something makes someone...
Usage Note
Often appears in the structures 'at the sight of' (as a reaction to seeing) and 'at first sight' (upon the first moment of seeing). Distinguish from sense 1: this is about the event of seeing, not the physical ability.
Common Mistakes
4. well-known places, buildings, or natural features that people travel to see, esp
well-known places, buildings, or natural features that people travel to see, especially in a city or region.
The tour guide showed us all the famous sights of Kyoto in one afternoon.
the sights of [city/place]
Mauricio spent his first day in Paris visiting the sights around Montmartre.
A map of the main historical sights is available at the hotel reception desk.
historical sights / main sights
Feng prefers exploring local markets over the usual tourist sights when travelling.
tourist sights — common compound
- see the sights
- the sights of [city]
- tourist sights
- historical sights
- show someone the sights
- attractions
broader — includes rides, shows, shops; sights are specifically visual landmarks
- landmarks
famous buildings or structures that are easy to recognise; a subset of sights
- points of interest
a formal or written alternative used in maps and guides
Usage Note
Almost always plural when referring to tourist attractions (see the sights of Rome). The singular is possible but rare — 'a sight' in this sense usually falls under sense 2 instead.
Common Mistakes
5. without having looked at or examined something before deciding about it — typica
without having looked at or examined something before deciding about it — typically used in the fixed phrase 'sight unseen' for purchases or agreements.
Darius bought the old farmhouse sight unseen, relying only on photographs he saw online.
buy something sight unseen
Christopher rented a flat in Taipei sight unseen and found that the kitchen had no windows at all.
The collector purchased the painting sight unseen during an online auction.
purchase / buy + sight unseen
The couple leased a flat sight unseen after watching a short video tour online.
- buy sight unseen
- purchase sight unseen
- rent sight unseen
- in person
with the chance to see and examine before buying
Usage Note
Functions as an adverbial phrase, always in the fixed form 'sight unseen'. Never used with articles or possessives (not 'a sight unseen' or 'my sight unseen').
Common Mistakes
6. a large amount or degree of something, used in the phrase 'a sight' to emphasise
a large amount or degree of something, used in the phrase 'a sight' to emphasise a difference or quantity.
This new sofa is a sight more comfortable than the old one we had.
a sight + comparative adjective
Gabriel's car repairs cost a sight more money than he expected after the accident.
The children are a sight better behaved now that they have a regular bedtime.
a sight + comparative — informal intensifier
That final exam was a sight harder than any of the practice tests we took.
- a sight better
- a sight more
- a sight worse
Usage Note
Informal or dialectal. Used before a comparative adjective ('a sight better', 'a sight more'). In standard writing, 'a lot' or 'far' is preferred. Common in British and Irish English speech.
Common Mistakes
7. a raised fitting atop a firearm or similar implement that you align with your ey
a raised fitting atop a firearm or similar implement that you align with your eye to direct a shot at a chosen point.
Liang lined up the front and rear sights of his rifle before pulling the trigger at the shooting range.
front sight / rear sight — common modifier pair
The rifle's sights need adjusting after being knocked during the hike.
possessive: [object]'s sights
Mauricio checked the sights on the crossbow before taking aim at the target.
Laser sights are now available as add-ons for many handgun models.
laser sights — common compound
- front sight
- rear sight
- adjust the sights
- laser sights
- iron sights
- through the sights
- scope
a telescope-like sight that magnifies the target; not the same as open sights
- aiming device
the general technical term covering all types
Usage Note
Usually plural (sights) even when referring to the set on one weapon. Can refer to optical devices on crossbows, telescopes, and cameras as well as guns.
Common Mistakes
at first sight
idiomWhen you first see or think about something.
At first sight, the problem seemed easy to solve.
It was love at first sight for Maya and Diego.
To strongly dislike someone or something, often because you have seen them too much.
I can't stand the sight of that messy kitchen.
After the long trip, we were sick of the sight of each other.
To appear, especially slowly from far away.
A large ship hove into sight on the horizon.
As we rounded the corner, the old castle hove into view.
According to someone's opinion or judgment.
In the sight of the law, all citizens are equal.
In her parents' sight, she could do no wrong.
To recognize someone when you see them, but not know them well.
I know the new neighbor by sight, but we've never spoken.
Do you know that man by sight? He looks familiar.
To no longer be able to see someone or something.
We lost sight of the bird as it flew behind the clouds.
Don't lose sight of your main goal while working on details.
not a pretty sight
idiomUnpleasant to look at.
After the storm, the garden was not a pretty sight.
His face after the fight was not a pretty sight.
Impossible to find or see anywhere.
I looked for my keys, but they were nowhere to be found.
The bus was nowhere in sight, so we decided to walk.
Used to say that people quickly forget someone or something when they are not present.
After moving away, he realized out of sight, out of mind.
She put the cookies in the back of the cupboard, out of sight, out of mind.
To increase or decrease what you expect from a situation.
After the promotion, she raised her sights and aimed for a manager role.
He lowered his sights and applied for a smaller apartment.
To decide to achieve something and work hard for it.
She set her sights on becoming a doctor.
He set his sights on winning the championship this year.
Much better or much too good.
This restaurant is a damn sight better than the last one.
That price is a sight too high for me.
A person or thing that is very welcome or pleasant to see.
After the long hike, the cold water was a sight for sore eyes.
When Sara walked in, she was a sight for sore eyes.
sight unseen
idiomWithout seeing something before buying or agreeing to it.
He bought the car sight unseen, trusting the seller's description.
She rented the apartment sight unseen and was pleasantly surprised.
sight — verb
1. to see someone or something suddenly or briefly, often after looking for them or
to see someone or something suddenly or briefly, often after looking for them or unexpectedly.
The sailor sighted land on the third morning of the voyage across the Atlantic.
sight + concrete noun (land, ship, person)
Yuki sighted a rare bird species during her early morning walk in the forest.
The search party sighted the missing hiker waving from a ridge above the river.
sight + someone + verb-ing
No enemy ships were sighted during the overnight patrol along the coast.
passive: be sighted
Tendai thought he sighted a familiar face in the crowd at the train station.
- sight land
- sight a ship
- sight a deer
- be sighted by [someone]
- sighted + verb-ing
- spot
more informal and everyday than sight; implies noticing something that is hard to see
- glimpse
to see briefly or incompletely; often suggests speed or movement
- catch sight of
the phrasal equivalent of this verb sense, slightly more informal
Grammar Patterns
sight + noun phrase
Usage Note
More formal or literary than 'see' or 'spot'. Common in news, military, and exploration contexts. Frequently used in the passive ('were sighted'). Often implies that something was searched for or is noteworthy.
Common Mistakes
2. to position a firearm or comparable device by aligning its aiming apparatus with
to position a firearm or comparable device by aligning its aiming apparatus with a target, often before releasing a shot.
The soldier sighted carefully along the barrel before squeezing the trigger.
sight + along + [body part/object]
Élise sighted at the centre target and released the arrow from her bow.
sight + at + target
The hunter sighted through the scope for almost a minute before deciding not to shoot.
sight + through + [device]
Yan raised the hunting rifle and sighted down the range at the paper target.
- sight at [target]
- sight along [barrel/gun]
- sight through [scope/sight]
- sight carefully
- aim
the general-purpose word; 'sight' is more specific to using the device's sights
- take aim
the phrasal alternative; slightly more common in everyday speech
- draw a bead on
informal and idiomatic; specific to firearms with a front bead sight
Grammar Patterns
sight + at + noun phrase
sight + along + noun phrase
Usage Note
Almost always intransitive in this sense — you must use a preposition ('at', 'along', 'through') rather than a direct object. The related transitive sense with a direct object means 'to equip with sights' and is too technical for general learners.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- sightlessadjectiveC1
- sightseeingnounB1
- sightseernounB2
- unsightlyadjectiveC1
- far-sightedadjectiveB2
- short-sightedadjectiveB2
- eyesightnounB1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words relate to the ability to see, but they differ in register and scope. Sight is the most general and neutral word for the physical ability — you lose your sight, test your sight, or have poor sight. Eyesight is the everyday alternative that focuses specifically on how well you see; it is the word an optician would use ('your eyesight is 20/25'). Vision is more formal and often carries a nuance of clarity, foresight, or a broader mental dimension ('night vision', 'peripheral vision'), though it also works in medical contexts. Perception is the broadest: it includes how the brain interprets visual input, and extends to other senses and mental understanding. For everyday talk about the quality of seeing, use eyesight; for the anatomical or formal sense, use vision; for the plain ability, sight is the simplest and safest choice.
Common collocations
Phrases
- at first sight
- out of sight
- in sight of
- sight unseen
- catch sight of
- lose sight of
Etymology
Sight comes from Old English 'sihþ' (also 'gesiht'), meaning 'the faculty of seeing' or 'something seen'. It developed from the Proto-Germanic root *sehtiz, which is related to the verb 'see' (Old English 'sēon'). The word has been used for about 1,400 years in English, and its spelling has changed from 'siht' in Middle English to the modern 'sight', influenced by the word 'high'. The meaning expanded early from just the ability (still the core sense) to include things you see, noteworthy places, and eventually the aiming device on guns, which was first recorded in the 1570s.