View vs. Sight — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
View refers to a specific scene or perspective seen, while sight is the act of seeing or the range within which someone can see.
Difference Between View and Sight
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
View refers to a specific scene observed, while sight is the faculty or ability of seeing.
View is often used to describe a scene or landscape. Sight usually refers to the act of seeing or something seen.
View can mean to look at or inspect. Sight is rarely used as a verb but can mean to catch sight of.
Phrases like "in view" or "worldview" show various uses. "At first sight" or "out of sight" are common for sight.
View can imply contemplation or opinion. Sight often refers to visual perception or something impressive.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
A scene or perspective seen or contemplated
The ability to see; something seen
Usage as Nouns
Refers to scenes, landscapes, opinions
Refers to visual perception, range of seeing
Usage as Verbs
To look at, contemplate, consider
To catch sight of (rarely used as a verb)
Common Phrases
"Point of view", "in view"
"Love at first sight", "out of sight"
Connotations
Can imply opinion or perspective
Often relates to visual impressions
Compare with Definitions
View
An opinion or way of thinking.
Her views on the matter were clear.
Sight
Something that is seen.
The waterfall was a magnificent sight.
View
An examination using the eyes; a look
Used binoculars to get a better view.
Sight
The range within which someone can see.
The ship was in sight.
View
Field of vision
The aircraft has disappeared from view.
Sight
A device on a firearm for aiming.
He adjusted the rifle’s sight.
View
A scene that can be looked at from a particular position; a vista
The view from the tower.
Sight
The faculty or power of seeing
Joseph lost his sight as a baby
A sight test
View
A way of showing or seeing something, as from a particular position or angle
A side view of the house.
Sight
A thing that one sees or that can be seen
John was a familiar sight in the bar for many years
He was getting used to seeing unpleasant sights
View
An individual and personal perception, judgment, or interpretation; an opinion
In his view, aid to the rebels should be suspended.
Sight
A device on a gun or optical instrument used for assisting a person's precise aim or observation
There were reports of a man on the roof aiming a rifle and looking through its sights
View
An aim or intention
The law was written with a view toward safeguarding privacy.
Sight
Manage to see or observe (someone or something); catch an initial glimpse of
Tell me when you sight London Bridge
View
Consideration or concern
“The pitch of the roof had been calculated with a view to the heavy seasonal rains” (Caroline Alexander).
Sight
Take aim by looking through the sights of a gun
She sighted down the barrel
View
Expectation or likelihood
The measure has no view of success.
Sight
The ability to see.
View
To look at, examine, or inspect
Viewed the stars through the telescope.
Sight
Field of vision
Out of my sight.
View
To watch (a movie or show, for example) on a screen.
Sight
The act or fact of seeing
Hoping for a sight of land.
Caught sight of a rare bird.
View
To survey or study mentally; consider
When you view all their suggestions, you have to feel encouraged.
Sight
Something seen
That bird is a rare sight around here.
View
To think of (something) in a particular way; regard
Doesn't view herself as a success.
Viewed their efforts unfavorably.
Sight
Something worth seeing; a spectacle
The sights of London.
View
(physical) Visual perception.
Sight
(Informal) Something unsightly or ridiculous
Looked a sight after crossing the swamp.
View
The act of seeing or looking at something.
He changed seats to get a complete view of the stage.
Sight
The foreseeable future; prospect
No solution in sight.
View
The range of vision.
If there are any rabbits in this park, they keep carefully out of our view.
Sight
Mental perception or consideration
We lost sight of the purpose of our visit.
View
Something to look at, such as scenery.
My flat has a view of a junkyard.
The view from a window
Sight
Often sights A device used to assist aim by guiding the eye, as on a firearm or surveying instrument.
View
(Internet) An individual viewing of a web page or a video etc. by a user.
Sight
An aim or observation taken with such a device.
View
(obsolete) Appearance; show; aspect.
Sight
To perceive with the eyes; get sight of
Sighted land after 40 days at sea.
View
A picture, drawn or painted; a sketch.
A fine view of Lake George
Sight
To observe through a sight or an optical instrument
Sight a target.
View
An opinion, judgement, imagination, idea or belief.
Sight
To adjust the sights of (a rifle, for example).
View
A mental image.
I need more information to get a better view of the situation.
Sight
To take aim with (a firearm).
View
A way of understanding something, an opinion, a theory.
Your view on evolution is based on religious doctrines, not on scientific findings.
Sight
To direct one's gaze; look carefully.
View
A point of view.
From my view that is a stupid proposition.
Sight
To take aim
Sighted along the barrel of the gun.
View
An intention or prospect.
He smuggled a knife into prison with a view to using it as a weapon.
Sight
(in the singular) The ability to see.
He is losing his sight and now can barely read.
View
A virtual or logical table composed of the result set of a query in relational databases.
Sight
The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view.
To gain sight of land
View
The part of a computer program which is visible to the user and can be interacted with
Sight
Something seen.
View
A wake. en
Sight
Something worth seeing; a spectacle, either good or bad.
We went to London and saw all the sights – Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and so on.
You really look a sight in that ridiculous costume!
View
(transitive) To look at.
The video was viewed by millions of people.
Sight
A device used in aiming a projectile, through which the person aiming looks at the intended target.
View
(transitive) To regard in a stated way.
I view it as a serious breach of trust.
Sight
A small aperture through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained.
The sight of a quadrant
View
The act of seeing or beholding; sight; look; survey; examination by the eye; inspection.
Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view.
Objects near our view are thought greater than those of a larger size that are more remote.
Surveying nature with too nice a view.
Sight
A great deal, a lot; frequently used to intensify a comparative.
A sight of money
This is a darn sight better than what I'm used to at home!
View
Mental survey; intellectual perception or examination; as, a just view of the arguments or facts in a case.
I have with exact view perused thee, Hector.
Sight
In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame, the open space, the opening.
View
Power of seeing, either physically or mentally; reach or range of sight; extent of prospect.
The walls of Pluto's palace are in view.
Sight
(obsolete) The instrument of seeing; the eye.
View
That which is seen or beheld; sight presented to the natural or intellectual eye; scene; prospect; as, the view from a window.
'T is distance lends enchantment to the view.
Sight
Mental view; opinion; judgment.
In their sight it was harmless.
View
The pictorial representation of a scene; a sketch, either drawn or painted; as, a fine view of Lake George.
Sight
(transitive) To see; to get sight of (something); to register visually.
To sight land from a ship
View
Mode of looking at anything; manner of apprehension; conception; opinion; judgment; as, to state one's views of the policy which ought to be pursued.
To give a right view of this mistaken part of liberty.
Sight
(transitive) To observe though, or as if through, a sight, to check the elevation, direction, levelness, or other characteristics of, especially when surveying or navigating.
View
That which is looked towards, or kept in sight, as object, aim, intention, purpose, design; as, he did it with a view of escaping.
No man sets himself about anything but upon some view or other which serves him for a reason.
Sight
(transitive) To apply sights to; to adjust the sights of.
To sight a rifle or a cannon
View
Appearance; show; aspect.
[Graces] which, by the splendor of her viewDazzled, before we never knew.
Sight
To observe or aim (at something) using a (gun) sight.
View
To see; to behold; especially, to look at with attention, or for the purpose of examining; to examine with the eye; to inspect; to explore.
O, let me view his visage, being dead.
Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied,To mark what of their state he more might learn.
Sight
The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view; as, to gain sight of land.
A cloud received him out of their sight.
View
To survey or examine mentally; to consider; as, to view the subject in all its aspects.
The happiest youth, viewing his progress through.
Sight
The power of seeing; the faculty of vision, or of perceiving objects by the instrumentality of the eyes.
Thy sight is young,And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.
O loss of sight, of thee I most complain!
View
A way of regarding situations or topics etc.;
Consider what follows from the positivist view
Sight
The state of admitting unobstructed vision; visibility; open view; region which the eye at one time surveys; space through which the power of vision extends; as, an object within sight.
View
The visual percept of a region;
The most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views
Sight
A spectacle; a view; a show; something worth seeing.
Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
They never saw a sight so fair.
View
The act of looking or seeing or observing;
He tried to get a better view of it
His survey of the battlefield was limited
Sight
The instrument of seeing; the eye.
Why cloud they not their sights?
View
The range of the eye;
They were soon out of view
Sight
Inspection; examination; as, a letter intended for the sight of only one person.
View
A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty;
My opinion differs from yours
What are your thoughts on Haiti?
Sight
Mental view; opinion; judgment; as, in their sight it was harmless.
That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
View
A message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof;
His opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page
Sight
A small aperture or optical device through which objects are to be seen, and by which their direction is settled or ascertained; - used on surveying instruments; as, the sight of a quadrant.
Thier eyes of fire sparking through sights of steel.
View
Purpose; the phrase `with a view to' means `with the intention of' or `for the purpose of';
He took the computer with a view to pawning it
Sight
An optical device or small piece of metal, fixed or movable, on the breech, muzzle, center, or trunnion of a gun, or on the breech and the muzzle of a rifle, pistol, etc., by means of which the eye is guided in aiming. A telescope mounted on a weapon, such as a rifle, and used for accurate aiming at distant targets is called a telescopic sight.
View
Graphic art consisting of the graphic or photographic representation of a visual percept;
He painted scenes from everyday life
Figure 2 shows photographic and schematic views of the equipment
Sight
In a drawing, picture, etc., that part of the surface, as of paper or canvas, which is within the frame or the border or margin. In a frame or the like, the open space, the opening.
View
The range of interest or activity that can be anticipated;
It is beyond the horizon of present knowledge
Sight
A great number, quantity, or sum; as, a sight of money.
A wonder sight of flowers.
View
Outward appearance;
They look the same in outward view
Sight
To get sight of; to see; as, to sight land; to sight a wreck.
View
Deem to be;
She views this quite differently from me
I consider her to be shallow
I don't see the situation quite as negatively as you do
Sight
To look at through a sight; to see accurately; as, to sight an object, as a star.
View
Look at carefully; study mentally;
View a problem
Sight
To apply sights to; to adjust the sights of; also, to give the proper elevation and direction to by means of a sight; as, to sight a rifle or a cannon.
View
See or watch;
View a show on television
This program will be seen all over the world
View an exhibition
Catch a show on Broadway
See a movie
Sight
To take aim by a sight.
View
A scene or prospect observed.
The mountain view was breathtaking.
Sight
An instance of visual perception;
The sight of his wife brought him back to reality
The train was an unexpected sight
View
The ability to see something from a particular place.
The tower provides a panoramic view.
Sight
Anything that is seen;
He was a familiar sight on the television
They went to Paris to see the sights
View
To consider or regard something.
He viewed the situation with concern.
Sight
The ability to see; the faculty of vision
View
To inspect or examine.
She viewed the artifacts closely.
Sight
A optical instrument for aiding the eye in aiming, as on a firearm or surveying instrument
Sight
A range of mental vision;
In his sight she could do no wrong
Sight
The range of vision;
Out of sight of land
Sight
The act of looking or seeing or observing;
He tried to get a better view of it
His survey of the battlefield was limited
Sight
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;
A batch of letters
A deal of trouble
A lot of money
He made a mint on the stock market
It must have cost plenty
Sight
Catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes;
He caught sight of the king's men coming over the ridge
Sight
To catch a glimpse of something.
She sighted a deer in the woods.
Common Curiosities
Can view be used as a verb?
Yes, meaning to look at or consider something.
Is view always visual?
Primarily, but it can also refer to opinions or perspectives.
Can view and sight be used interchangeably?
Not usually, as they have different meanings and contexts.
Does sight always refer to the ability to see?
Often, but it can also mean something seen or the range of vision.
Is 'love at first sight' literal?
It's idiomatic, referring to instant attraction.
Is sight used as a verb often?
Rarely, but it can mean to catch sight of something.
Does 'in view' mean something is visible?
Yes, it means within sight or consideration.
Does the phrase 'point of view' refer to visual perspective?
It can, but it often refers to an opinion or standpoint.
Can sight be something unpleasant?
Yes, as in "a sorry sight."
Can view imply contemplation?
Yes, it can suggest thoughtful observation.
Can view be abstract?
Yes, especially when referring to opinions.
Does a worldview involve only visual aspects?
No, it refers to a comprehensive perspective on life and the world.
Is 'out of sight' always literal?
Not always, it can mean forgotten or not considered.
Is the 'sight' in a gun's sight related to vision?
Yes, it's a device to aid visual aiming.
Can something be a sight without being beautiful?
Yes, it can be any notable visual occurrence.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
