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see, look (at) and watch

see​

See is the ordinary verb to say that something ‘comes to our eyes’, whether or not we are paying attention.

  • Suddenly I saw something strange. (not Suddenly I looked at something strange.)
  • Did you see the article about the strike in today’s paper?

look (at)​

We use look to talk about concentrating, paying attention, trying to see what is there. You can see something without wanting to, but you can only look at something deliberately. Compare:

  • I looked at the photo, but I didn’t see anybody I knew.
  • ‘Do you see that man?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Look again.’ ‘Oh no! It’s Moriarty!’
  • He looked at her with his eyes full of love.

When look has an object it is followed by at. When there is no object there is no preposition. Compare:

  • Look at me! (not Look me!)
  • Look! (not Look at!)

Note that at is often dropped before a *wh-*clause.

  • Look (at) what you’ve done!
  • ***Look who’*s here!
  • Look where you’re going.

watch​

Watch is like look at, but suggests that something is happening or going to happen. We watch things that change, move or develop.

  • Watch that man – I want to know everything he does.
  • I usually watch a football match on Saturday afternoon.

Complete experiences: see​

Watch is typically used to talk about experiences that are going on, in progress. We often prefer see to talk about the whole of a performance, play, film, match, etc. Compare:

  • He got into a fight yesterday afternoon while he was watching a football match. (not … while he was seeing a football match.)
  • Have you ever seen Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’? (not Have you ever watched Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’?)

watch TV​

Watch is normally used with TV; watch and see are both used to talk about TV programmes and films.

  • You spend too much time watching TV.
  • We watched/saw a great film on TV last night.

see if/whether​

See can be followed by if/whether, in the sense of ‘find out’. Look and watch are not normally used in this way.

  • See if that suit still fits you. (not Look if that suit …)
  • I’m looking to see whether there’s any food left. (not I’m looking whether there’s …)
  • Phone and see whether she’s in.
note

For infinitives and -ing forms after these verbs, (see here).

For other meanings of see (and progressive uses), (see here), (see here).

For other meanings of look, (see here).

For if and whether, (see here).

There are similar differences between hear and listen (to), (see here).