Perceive

/pərˈsiːv/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to become aware of directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing.

She could perceive the faint sound of music from the other room.

to recognize, discern, or comprehend something.

He could easily perceive the tension in the room.

to interpret or look upon something in a particular way.

People may perceive the same event differently based on their experiences.

to understand something in a specific way.

I perceive your silence as an agreement.

Middle English: from Old French 'percevoir', from Latin 'percipere', from 'per-' (through) + 'capere' (to seize).

perceive as:

to interpret or regard in a specific way

perceive through:

to understand something by means of sensory experience

to be perceived:

to be understood or interpreted in a certain way

Get the vibe

I don’t know, but I just get the vibe that he’s not into it.

Pick up on

She can really pick up on people's feelings.