26984 words

sight

15 definitions • 40 examples
1
the ability to see:

Examples:

If your sight is poor, you should not drive a car.
lose your sight The old woman has lost her sight (= has become blind).
2
something that is in someone's view:

Examples:

The flowers at the annual flower show were a beautiful sight.
keep sight of You should always keep sight of your bags (= have them where you can see them) while you're at the airport.
a real sight informal He was a real sight in his old clothes (= he looked messy or silly).
at the sight of The child laughed at the sight of (= when she saw) the new toy.
sight of formal The lawyer requested sight of (= to see) the papers.
out of your sight I don't dare let the children out of my sight (= go where I cannot see them) at the park.
out of sight The police officer was hidden out of sight (= where he could not be seen) behind a tree.
into sight The castle came into sight (= started to be able to be seen) as we went round a bend in the road.
within sight of We're looking for a house which is within sight of (= from which it is possible to see) the mountains.
in sight figurative After three years of campaigning, the end is finally in sight (= will happen soon) for Jon.
catch sight of I caught sight of (= saw for a moment) my former teacher while I was out shopping today, but she turned a corner and I lost sight of (= could no longer see) her.
by sight "Do you know David Wilson?" "I haven't met him, but I know him by sight (= I recognize him, but do not know him)."
the sight of informal She hated/loathed the sight of (= hated) her former husband.
can't bear/stand the sight of informal They used to be very good friends, but now they can't bear/stand the sight of (= hate) each other.
3
when someone sees something or someone for the first time:

Examples:

The question seemed easy at first sight, but when the students tried to answer it, they discovered how difficult it was.
4

Examples:

We spent a week in Rome looking at all the sights.
5
without seeing something first:

Examples:

I never buy anything sight unseen.
6
a lot; much:

Examples:

a sight more Food is a darn/damn sight more expensive than it used to be.
UK He's a sight better than he was yesterday.
She's a damn sight funnier than most comedians, that's for sure.
The whole task would have been a damn sight easier if we'd been given proper instructions.
I mean it's not perfect but it's a darn sight better than it was before.
7
a part of a gun or other device through which you look to help you aim at something:

Examples:

Make sure you line up the sights before you fire the gun.
8
to suddenly see something or someone:

Examples:

After days at sea, the sailors finally sighted land.
9
the ability to see, or the act of seeing something:

Examples:

Machines don’t have a sense of sight.
The sight of sick children disturbs her.
I know David by sight (= I know what he looks like).
Officers arrested the looters on sight (= as soon as they saw them).
10
something that is in someone’s view, or the view someone has:

Examples:

[ C ] The finish line was a welcome sight for the runners.
[ C ] Don’t let the children out of your sight.
[ U ] Keep your bags in sight.
11
A sight is also an interesting place:

Examples:

[ C ] No sights in Moscow are more historic than the Kremlin.
12
a device, esp. on a gun or telescope (= device for looking at objects that are far away), through which you look to help you aim at something:

Examples:

Locate the target in your sight.
13
to suddenly see something or someone:

Examples:

After several days at sea, the sailors finally sighted land.
14
used to say that an amount of money must be paid within a particular number of days, months, etc. after the document showing the amount owed is received by the person paying:

Examples:

The bill read "30 days after sight."
a draft payable at two months after sight
15
used to say that an amount of money must be paid as soon as the document showing the amount owed is received by the person paying:

Examples:

The bank draft was marked "at sight".
a bill that is payable at sight

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