sight
syt
Sight (noun) means the ability to see; vision. Example: “Good sight is important for anyone who wants to become a pilot.”
noun
1
The ability to see; vision.
"Good sight is important for anyone who wants to become a pilot."
"As he grew older, his sight began to weaken, so he got glasses."
"She lost her sight in one eye after the accident."
2
Something seen, especially something notable or worth looking at.
"The waterfall was an incredible sight."
"Tourists flock to see the sights of the old city."
"The sunrise over the mountains was a wonderful sight after the long climb."
3
A device on a weapon or instrument used to help aim it at a target.
"He lined up the target through the rifle's sight."
"The archer adjusted the sight on her bow before the next shot."
"A telescope often has a small sight attached to help find stars."
verb
1
To see or spot something, often after searching for it.
"The crew sighted land after weeks at sea."
"We sighted a family of deer at the edge of the wood."
"Lookouts sighted smoke on the horizon and alerted the captain."
How to use sight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sense of vision, or something seen — plus, informally, "a sight" can mean "a lot" (a sight of trouble).
Common pairings
lose sight of
catch sight of
in plain sight
a sight for sore eyes
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Word forms
- Plural
- sights
- Third person singular
- sights
- Past tense
- sighted
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Can you complete this real example?
Good _____ is important for anyone who wants to become a pilot.
Etymology
From Old English sihþ, related to see — literally "the act or power of seeing".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sight
See all rhymes for sight →Frequently asked questions
What does “sight” mean?
The word “sight” means the ability to see; vision. In plain terms, the sense of vision, or something seen — plus, informally, "a sight" can mean "a lot" (a sight of trouble).
How do you pronounce “sight”?
“Sight” is pronounced syt (/saɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sight” in a sentence?
Here is “sight” used in a sentence: “She lost her sight in one eye after the accident.”
What is another word for “sight”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sight” include see, espy, glimpse and spot.
What part of speech is “sight”?
Depending on how it is used, “sight” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sight” come from?
The word “sight” comes from Old English. From Old English sihþ, related to see — literally "the act or power of seeing".
Is “sight” a common word?
“Sight” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “sight” have?
“Sight” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ability to see; vision.
What is the difference between sight and vision?
'Sight' is the basic physical ability to see — the function of the eyes. 'Vision' means this too, but reaches further: sharpness of sight, or a mental picture of the future, as in a leader's vision. So all vision includes sight, but 'vision' also stretches into imagination and foresight.
Can sight be measured?
Yes. Sight is measured through eye tests, most commonly visual acuity charts that produce figures like 20/20 vision. Opticians also measure field of vision, colour perception, and focusing ability. These tests show how clearly and fully a person sees, and help detect problems that glasses or treatment can correct.
What are the different meanings of 'sight'?
Besides the ability to see, 'sight' means something seen, especially something notable — the sights of a city. It also means the range of vision, as in 'out of sight', a device for aiming a gun, and, informally, a mess — 'you look a sight'. Context makes the meaning clear.
What is the difference between sight, site, and cite?
These sound alike but differ in meaning. 'Sight' is the ability to see, or something seen. 'Site' is a location, such as a building site or a website. 'Cite' is a verb meaning to quote or refer to a source. Confusing their spellings is a very common mistake.
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