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Look at, see or watch?

Look at​

When we look at something, we direct our eyes in its direction and pay attention to it:

  • [the speaker is sitting at her computer]
  • Come and look at this photo Carina sent me.
  • Look at the rabbit!
warning

When look has an object, it is followed by at:

  • Look at the rain. It’s so heavy.
  • Not: Look the rain.

See​

See means noticing something using our eyes. The past simple form is saw and the -ed form is seen:

  • I saw Trevor at the shopping centre yesterday.
  • Has anyone seen my glasses?
See also
  • See

Watch as a verb​

Watch is similar to look at, but it usually means that we look at something for a period of time, especially something that is changing or moving:

  • We watch television every evening.
  • I like to sit at the window to watch what’s happening in the garden.
warning

We use see, not watch, when we talk about being at sports matches or public performances, such as films, theatre and dramas. However, we watch the television:

  • We saw a wonderful new film last night. You’ll have to go and see it while it’s in the cinema.
  • Not: We watched… You’ll have to go and watch …

Compare

I watched ‘Phantom of the Opera’ last night on DVD.I was at home.
I saw ‘Phantom of the Opera’ last night.I was at a theatre or cinema.

When we look at something for a long time, we use watch, not see.

Compare

We watched whales jumping out of the water.Watch focuses on the process of seeing: we spent time looking at the whales.
We saw whales jumping out of the water.See focuses more on the finished event. It doesn’t suggest that we spent much time looking at the whales.

Look at, see or watch: typical errors​

When there is an object, we use at after look:

  • If you go for a walk by the river, you can look at the beautiful scenery.
  • Not: … you can look the beautiful scenery.

We don’t use watch to talk about things that we see without trying:

  • If you go to the forest, you might see some deer.
  • Not: … you might watch some deer.

We don’t use watch when referring to a film in the cinema:

  • A: We’re going to the cinema tonight.
  • B: What are you going to see?
  • (Not: What are you going to watch?)
  • A: I’m not sure. I really want to see the new Rocky movie but Nancy said she’s not interested in that.
  • Not: I really want to watch the new Rocky movie …

We use watch, not see, when we refer to something on the television:

  • At night, I like to watch the television.
  • Not: …I like to see the television.