Look, see and watch are three common English verbs, and they are easy to confuse because they are all connected with using your eyes. But we use them in different ways.
In this English lesson, you’ll learn the difference between look, see and watch, when to use each verb and the common mistakes to avoid. You’ll see simple examples from everyday English and work, including why we say look at a report, see a mistake and watch a video.
The short answerLook, see and watch: the difference
- Look means you deliberately direct your eyes towards something. Look at the screen.
- See means you notice something with your eyes. Can you see the figures?
- Watch means you look at something for a period of time, usually because it is moving or something is happening. Watch the video.
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How to use LOOK in English
We use look when we deliberately direct our eyes towards someone or something. You decide where you want to direct your attention.
Very often, we use look at when there is an object after the verb.
Look at the photo.
Look at that man over there.
Can you look at this document for me?
She looked at the figures before answering.
look + at + person or thing
- Look the report.Look at the report.
You can also use look without at when there is no object immediately after it.
- Look! There’s Peter.
- Look over there.
- Look to your left.
Look at something at work
This is very common in meetings, emails and presentations.
Could you look at the latest version?
Let’s look at the figures first.
If you look at the second column, you’ll see the difference.
Can you have a look at this before I send it to the client?
In all of these examples, the person is deliberately directing their attention towards something.
Verb 2How to use SEE in English
We use see when something becomes visible to us or we notice it with our eyes. You don’t necessarily decide to see it. Your eyes simply notice it.
I saw Mark in the station this morning.
Can you see the mountains from here?
I didn’t see the sign.
Did you see where I left my keys?
I could see something moving outside the window.
For this basic meaning of see, we often use can see when we are talking about what is visible now.
- Can you see me?
- I can’t see the bottom of the screen.
- Can everyone see the presentation?
Present: see · Past: saw · Past participle: seen
I see him quite often.
I saw him yesterday.
I haven’t seen him this week.
SEE at work
You’ll hear see all the time in workplace English.
Did you see the email I sent yesterday?
I’ve just seen your message.
I didn’t see the mistake until this morning.
Can you see the figures clearly?
I can see a problem with that approach.
Here, see often means that you noticed something.
Verb 3How to use WATCH in English
We use watch when we pay attention to something for a period of time. Very often, we watch an activity, movement, process or something that is changing.
We watch television.
We watch a football match.
She watched the children playing.
I watched the presentation online last night.
Watch what happens when I press this button.
The important idea is that your attention continues for some time. Compare:
- Look at the birdYou direct your eyes towards it.
- Watch the birdYou continue looking at it and follow what it does.
WATCH at work
You can use watch when you follow a demonstration, recording, process or activity.
Watch this short demonstration first.
I watched the recording of yesterday’s meeting.
Watch what happens to the figures when we change the assumptions.
Could you watch how the customer uses the new system?
We wouldn’t normally say Watch this document. A document isn’t an activity.
- Watch this document.Look at this document.
Look vs see vs watch: comparison table
| Verb | Main idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| look | direct your eyes towards something | Look at the screen. |
| see | notice something with your eyes | Can you see the figures? |
| watch | pay attention for a period of time | Watch how the figures change. |
Here’s another example using all three:
Look at the graph on the screen.
Can you see the sharp fall in April?
Now watch what happens when I add the figures for May.
The three verbs are connected, but they describe three different things.
Listen to the lesson
You can also listen to this lesson with episode 154 of Speak Better English with Harry.
Hear the three verbs in context while you’re travelling, walking or practising your listening.
How to use look, see and watch at work
These verbs come up surprisingly often when you use English in meetings, emails, presentations and everyday conversations with colleagues.
The difference becomes much easier to understand when you put them into a real work situation.
LOOK AT a report
Could you look at the report before the meeting?
You are asking someone to give the report their attention.
SEE a report or email
Did you see the report I sent yesterday?
You are asking whether the person noticed, received or read it.
WATCH a demonstration
Could you watch the demonstration before Friday?
You are asking the person to pay attention to something that happens over a period of time.
Could you look at my email? — you want the person to read or check it.
Did you see my email? — you want to know whether they noticed or received it.
That small difference matters in workplace English.
Look, see and watch in meetings
LookUse look when you want someone to direct their attention to a particular point.
- Look at the figures in the final column.
- Let’s look at the first option.
- If you look at page six, you’ll find the updated forecast.
Use see when you’re talking about what people can notice or what is visible.
- Can everyone see my screen?
- Can you see the difference between the two versions?
- I can see one possible problem with this plan.
Use watch when something is happening or changing.
- Watch what happens when we increase the volume.
- Let’s watch the demonstration first.
- Watch how the customer completes this part of the process.
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Use English at work?
If you use English in meetings, emails or everyday situations at work, choosing the correct verb is only one part of the problem. Sometimes you need to ask for clarification, give yourself time to think, disagree carefully or check how an email sounds.
I’ve put my free Business English guides, quizzes and tools in one place, so you can choose the one that helps with the situation you have now.
Explore free Business English resources →Look at or see? What’s the difference?
This is one of the most useful comparisons to understand.
- Look atdescribes the deliberate action.
- Seedescribes what your eyes notice.
Compare:
I looked at the report, but I didn’t see the mistake.
You deliberately read or examined the report, but you didn’t notice the mistake.
Look at the photograph. Can you see Peter in the background?
First, you direct your attention towards the photograph. Then you notice Peter.
At work:
- I looked at the contract twice, but I didn’t see that clause.
- She looked at the figures and immediately saw the problem.
See or watch a film?
Both see a film and watch a film are correct, but we don’t always use them in exactly the same way.
When you talk about the activity of following the film on a screen, watch is very common.
- We watched a film last night.
- I’m watching a documentary.
- Have you watched the new series yet?
See can mean that you experienced or attended a film, performance or event.
- Did you see that film when it came out?
- We went to see the new film on Saturday.
- I saw her presentation at the conference.
So don’t try to apply one simple rule to every possible use of these verbs. Start with the main difference, then learn common expressions as you meet them.
Beyond your eyesOther common meanings of SEE
See doesn’t always mean using your eyes.
SEE = understand
I see what you mean.
I see your point.
I can see why they’re concerned.
These expressions are very common in meetings and discussions.
I see what you mean means I understand what you mean. It doesn’t mean that you can physically see something.
SEE = meet someone
I’m seeing the client at three.
I need to see my manager this afternoon.
Here, see means meet. The context normally makes the meaning clear.
Get it rightCommon mistakes with look, see and watch
1. Forgetting AT after LOOK
- Could you look the report?Could you look at the report?
2. Using WATCH for a static document or picture
- Watch this photo.Look at this photo.
- Watch this report.Look at this report.
3. Using LOOK when you mean notice
- I didn’t look the mistake.I didn’t see the mistake.
You can also say I didn’t notice the mistake.
4. Saying “I’m seeing the screen” when you mean it is visible
For normal visual perception, use can see.
- I’m seeing the screen.I can see the screen.
- Are you seeing my screen?Can you see my screen?
Remember that I’m seeing the client tomorrow is different. In that sentence, seeing means meeting.
5. Thinking WATCH is only used for television
You can watch many things when you follow them for a period of time.
- Watch the children.
- Watch the demonstration.
- Watch what happens next.
- Watch the numbers change.
- Watch how she does it.
A quick way to choose between look, see and watch
Ask yourself three questions.
- Am I deliberately directing my eyes towards something? Use look, usually look at. Look at this.
- Am I talking about something my eyes notice? Use see. I can see it.
- Am I paying attention to something for a period of time? Use watch. Watch what happens.
You don’t need to translate all three verbs into your own language every time. Think about what is happening.
Look, see or watch? Quick practice
Choose look, see or watch. The form of the verb changes where the sentence needs it. Your score appears once you’ve answered all eight.
0 of 8 answered
Directing someone’s attention to a particular page.
Please ________ at page four of the report.
Asking whether a message arrived and was noticed.
Did you ________ the email I sent yesterday?
Following a demonstration from start to finish.
We ________ the product demonstration yesterday afternoon.
Checking that something is visible in an online meeting.
Can you ________ the figures clearly on your screen?
Pointing to a chart during a presentation.
________ at the chart on the right.
Something you failed to notice.
I didn’t ________ the mistake until the client mentioned it.
Asking a colleague to view a recording before Friday.
Could you ________ this short video before the meeting?
You examined the document, but a detail escaped you.
I ________ at the contract twice, but I still didn’t ________ the clause about the deadline.
Answers
Show the answers
- look – Please look at page four of the report.
- see – Did you see the email I sent yesterday?
- watched – We watched the product demonstration yesterday afternoon.
- see – Can you see the figures clearly on your screen?
- Look – Look at the chart on the right.
- see – I didn’t see the mistake until the client mentioned it.
- watch – Could you watch this short video before the meeting?
- looked / see – I looked at the contract twice, but I still didn’t see the clause about the deadline.
The last example shows the difference particularly well. You deliberately looked at the contract, but you didn’t see the clause.
Frequently asked questions about look, see and watch
What is the difference between look, see and watch in English?
Use look when you deliberately direct your eyes towards something.
Use see when you notice something with your eyes.
Use watch when you pay attention to something for a period of time, particularly an activity, movement or process.
Do I say “look” or “look at”?
When a person or thing comes directly after look, you normally need at.
Look at me. / Look at the screen. / Look at this email.
You can use look without at when there is no object directly after it.
Look! / Look over there.
What is the difference between “Did you see my email?” and “Did you look at my email?”
Did you see my email? normally asks whether the person noticed or received it.
Did you look at my email? asks whether they opened it and gave it some attention.
If you want someone to review your email, you can say:
Could you have a look at my email before I send it?
Should I say “Can you see my screen?” or “Can you watch my screen?”
In an online meeting, say:
Can you see my screen?
You are checking whether the screen is visible.
You might use watch if you want people to follow an action on the screen:
Watch what happens when I click here.
Do you see or watch a movie?
Both are possible.
Watch a movie usually focuses on the activity of viewing it. See a movie can mean experience or attend it.
We watched a movie at home last night. / We went to see a movie at the cinema.
Can SEE mean understand?
Yes. This is very common.
I see what you mean. / I see your point. / I can see why you’re worried.
In these examples, see means understand.
Remember the difference
So, let’s put the three verbs together one final time.
- Look – you deliberately direct your eyes or attention towards something. Look at the report.
- See – you notice something. I can see a mistake.
- Watch – you continue paying attention to something for a period of time. Watch the demonstration.
Try making a few sentences of your own. Use situations from your real life or work. The more often you use these verbs in context, the easier it becomes to choose the right one without stopping to think about the rule.
If meetings, emails and everyday conversations are where you need English most
You can choose from my free workplace English resources: practical workplace phrases, a quick guide for unexpected questions, a meeting phrase finder, a meeting English quiz and an Email Tone Checker.
See all free Business English resources →Related English lessons
If this lesson was useful, these will help you choose the right verb in English more often.
- 10 Ways of Looking in English Use it to learn more precise verbs such as glance, notice, observe, stare, examine and catch a glimpse of.
- English Phrasal Verbs with LOOK Use it to learn common phrasal verbs such as look into, look for, look after and look ahead.
- Difference Between Seem, Look and Appear Use it when you want to understand the difference between three common verbs we use to describe how something seems or appears.
- Speak, Talk, Say and Tell: What’s the Difference? Use it to stop mixing up four other common English verbs that can be difficult for non-native speakers.