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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Consider what success actually looks like in your daily life, and notice which efforts deserve your attention.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Global art markets saw modest growth in 2025 after two years of decline — but the recovery is partial and fragile.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Offensively, the Cowboys were clearly comfortable seeing TCU’s style of defense for a third time.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The feature used details of multiple tech writers, as spotted by The Verge, including some of the publication's own staff and others from Bloomberg, Digital Foundry, IGN, Tom's Guide, Rock Paper Shotgun, and others.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
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Aviation enthusiasts spotted the latest plane and took to Reddit to discuss its maneuverings.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Investors are eyeing what the Bank of Japan might do on interest rates as the central bank’s policy board concludes its two-day meeting Thursday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Mar. 2026
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Raising three children, two of which are following a similar path of realizing their dreams of playing in arenas filled with thousands of spectators eyeing their every move.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Espy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/espy. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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