as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
out of the corner of my eye I espied the squirrel making another raid on the bird feeder
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Recent Examples of espy
The film’s comedy is built from a series of infinitesimal touches and chance intrusions, as when Édouard, espying Charles in the street, leaps from his seat at a sidewalk café and jostles a waiter bearing drinks.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
Imprisoned by the Duke of Athens, the cousins espy the beautiful Emilia from their cell—and each man falls immediately in love.
—Andrea Mays, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
If a basket-hanger was espied by the recipient, the recipient would give chase and try to steal a kiss from the basket-hanger.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2024
Images taken from different realities, different spaces, times, places that have been sort of cut out and pasted together to create a new scene that depicts something that no human eye would ever have espied.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2023
Resentful 1970s émigrés were prodding the West to espy its true enemy not in communism, but in an irredeemable Russia.
—Ignat Solzhenitsyn, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2020
The cub tried to sneak up on him, but was quickly espied by the older lion.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 20 June 2019
For instance, visitors can scan through an electronic infographic for terrariums filled with camouflaging Gulf Coast toads, then head outside onto more than 2 miles of dirt and boardwalk trails to espy the bayou's flora and fauna.
—Beau Evans, NOLA.com, 6 Oct. 2017
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 9 July 2024
Imprisoned by the Duke of Athens, the cousins espy the beautiful Emilia from their cell—and each man falls immediately in love.
—Andrea Mays, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
If a basket-hanger was espied by the recipient, the recipient would give chase and try to steal a kiss from the basket-hanger.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2024
Images taken from different realities, different spaces, times, places that have been sort of cut out and pasted together to create a new scene that depicts something that no human eye would ever have espied.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2023
Resentful 1970s émigrés were prodding the West to espy its true enemy not in communism, but in an irredeemable Russia.
—Ignat Solzhenitsyn, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2020
The cub tried to sneak up on him, but was quickly espied by the older lion.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 20 June 2019
For instance, visitors can scan through an electronic infographic for terrariums filled with camouflaging Gulf Coast toads, then head outside onto more than 2 miles of dirt and boardwalk trails to espy the bayou's flora and fauna.
—Beau Evans, NOLA.com, 6 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for espy
Verb
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In the fall of 2022, Kohn went to a dermatologist after noticing lines form on his head.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2025
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Image Nicole Hernandez has been noticing couples express interest in a special culinary addition to their wedding menu.—
Sadiba Hasan,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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New Orleans is also seeing its all-time snowiest day based on modern records taken at their current location.—
Andrew Freedman,
Axios,
22 Jan. 2025
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The states that saw the most substantial mortgage costs were as follows: Hawaii, California, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Massachusetts and Arizona.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Then, in September 2023, Swift made her first appearance at a Chiefs game when she was spotted in a box with Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
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The pair were spotted together on multiple occasions last month and spent their Thanksgiving volunteering for a good cause, teaming up with their children and a charitable organization to help feed members of the unhoused community.—
Meredith Nardino,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Congressional Republicans are eyeing dozens of Biden administration regulations to roll back once President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term on Monday.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
18 Jan. 2025
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But some investors have been eyeing it, including Trump's former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and billionaire businessman Frank McCourt.—
MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
18 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near espy
Cite this Entry
“Espy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espy. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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