Synonyms of perceive

perceive

verb

pər-ˈsēv 

1

as in to feel

to have a vague awareness of

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

2

as in to notice

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

perceived that it was going to be a nice day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• notice
• see
• spot
• regard
• eye
• discern
• view
• sight
• observe
• distinguish
• remark
• witness
• look (at)
• watch
• behold
• note
• descry
• identify
• espy
• catch
• get a load of
• consider
• spy
• set eyes on
• lay eyes on
• pick out
• examine
• heed
• attend (to)
• scrutinize
• make out
• glimpse
• inspect
• mark
• scan
• study
• survey
• mind
• pick up
• glance (at)
• peer (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• disregard
• neglect
• pass over
• miss
• overlook
• overpass

3

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of

I perceive your point, but I still disagree

Synonyms & Similar Words

• understand
• know
• recognize
• comprehend
• decipher
• see
• appreciate
• grasp
• discern
• realize
• get
• conceive
• apprehend
• sense
• assimilate
• make
• intuit
• decode
• seize
• behold
• register
• make out
• tumble (to)
• cotton (to or on to)
• cognize
• dig
• catch on (to)
• catch
• grok
• twig
• compass
• pick up on
• absorb
• fathom
• savvy
• digest
• penetrate
• take in
• pierce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• misunderstand
• misinterpret
• misread
• mistake
• misconstrue
• misperceive
• misconceive
• misapprehend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of perceive

Apple goes along to get along Tim Cook generally seems keen to avoid expressing anything that might be perceived as a personal opinion in public. —ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026

Borick said the data center industry’s perceived ties to rising electricity costs have caused opposition to explode in size and political saliency. —Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026

According to a survey by Middlesex University, women often feel dissatisfied even after a promotion because, despite the career advancement, they’re still perceived as less competent and constantly have to justify their skills. —Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026

As recently as 2021, research showed that people perceived women who plan to undergo plastic surgery as less moral than those who don’t. —Rheana Murray, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026