Spanish word

divisar

Pronunciation

IPA/diβiˈsaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbdiscern

Example

Desde la colina se divisa el mar.

From the hill you can discern the sea.

Illustration for divisar (discern)

More examples

No pude divisar a simple vista el problema.

I could not discern the problem at a glance.

Core concept

Blurred outline of a distant building.

Common phrases

  • divisar a simple vista

    discern at a glance

  • divisar a lo lejos

    discern in the distance

  • divisar a alguien

    discern someone

Similar words

ver: Registers visually that something is present, recognizing its shape.
mirar: Directs the eyes at something to observe it intentionally.
observar: Observes closely, paying attention to small visual details.
avistar: Catches sight of a remote object, often as a brief or sudden glimpse.

Definition in Spanish

Alcanzar a ver o encontrar algo a lo lejos, muchas veces de forma parcial o confusa.

Word origin

Derived from medieval Latin divisare, formed from dis- 'apart' and vidēre 'to see', so it literally means to distinguish or spot something far off.

Usage tips

  • Commonly appears in impersonal phrasing like se divisa(n) or en el horizonte, and often follows desde or a lo lejos.

Other meanings

  • catch sight ofverb
  • spotverb

Opposites

Related words

  • divisadovisibleadjective

Word lists with this word