verb
perceive
puh-SEEV
verb
1
To become aware of something through the senses, such as sight, sound, or touch.
"She perceived a faint smell of smoke coming from the kitchen."
"It was too dark to perceive any movement in the room."
2
To understand or interpret something in a particular way.
"He was perceived as arrogant, even though he meant no harm."
"The public perceives the new policy as unfair to small businesses."
How to Use Perceive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo notice or become aware of something, or to form an opinion about how something seems.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "conceive" (to form an idea or become pregnant) — both come from the same Latin root but mean different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
perceive a threat
perceived as
widely perceived
Word Forms
perceived past tense, perceives singular
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She _____ a faint smell of smoke coming from the kitchen.
Etymology
From Old French percevoir, from Latin percipere ("to grasp, seize"), built from per- ("thoroughly") and capere ("to take") — the same root that gives us "capture" and "receive".