Seer
noun /sɪər/ — One who sees what others cannot; a prophet
Definition
A person who sees visions and predicts future events — a prophet or oracle. Also used more broadly for any person of exceptional insight.
Beyond the definition
The gift and burden of seeing clearly. A seer doesn't choose what they see — they only choose whether to speak it.
Origin & history
From Middle English 'seere' — from 'see' + '-er'. A seer is simply one who sees — but what distinguishes the seer is that they see what others cannot or will not.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
In every culture, there has been someone called a seer — the person whose perception runs ahead of the group's.
He was a business seer — he identified the trend five years before everyone else named it.
The burden of the seer in Greek tragedy: to know the fate that is coming and be unable to prevent it.
Synonyms
Antonyms
blind, obtuse
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Archaeologist Seeking Insight
An archaeologist uses a magnifying glass to study a worn seal and tablet, comparing these unfamiliar traces under candlelight to understand a mystery.
A seer is a person of exceptional insight who can interpret the future or mysteries. The archaeologist, who is painstakingly searching for clarity in these ancient and obscure traces, acts as an analogy for a seer: they are using their expertise and focus to look beyond the surface and uncover hidden truths.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration