1 B1 neutral
To escort or accompany a visitor to the exit of a building.
"The assistant saw the client out after the meeting and thanked him for coming."
separable
see out
B2 neutral separable transitive
To escort someone to the exit of a building; or to last or continue until the end of a period or event.
In plain English
To walk someone to the door so they can leave; or to continue doing something until it is completely finished.
What does "see out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To last or continue until the end of a period of time, often despite difficulties.
"The manager agreed to see out the remainder of his contract before leaving the club."
“
He will see out the season before any decision is made about his future.
— The Guardian, 2022
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
To survive or outlast something (such as a period of hardship or a winter).
"The old car barely saw out the winter — it broke down for good in March."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To guide someone out through a door — or to watch something out to its end.
Actually means
To walk someone to the door so they can leave; or to continue doing something until it is completely finished.
Usage tip
The 'escort to the exit' sense is common in professional settings. The 'endure to the end' sense is often used about contracts, seasons, or difficult periods.
Words that pair with "see out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
contract season year guest visitor term
How to conjugate "see out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
see out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sees out
he/she/it
Past simple
saw out
yesterday
Past participle
seen out
have + pp
-ing form
seeing out
continuous
Hear "see out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "see out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.