sighting

verb

present participle of sight
as in spotting
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes the crew felt a rush of excitement upon hearing that the lookout had sighted land

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sighting Hammerhead sharks typically prefer warmer waters than those found in Southern California, and the last sighting near the coast was over a decade ago, according to the iNaturalist species-sighting database. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026 Hammerhead shark sighting A hammerhead shark was spotted off Rhode Island last week. — Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 27 July 2026 Upon sighting The Queen Who Never Was, Lohar reveals her true motivation. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026 Organizers with the Vans Jack’s Surfboard Pro said the beach was closed for a mile in each direction following the shark sighting late afternoon on Thursday, April 23. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026 Even slight pollution or habitat changes can threaten them — a detail that makes every confirmed sighting significant for conservation science. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026 In addition to the occasional energy vortex, Sedona is said to be a UFO sighting hot spot. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2026 The equipment allowed the researchers to pinpoint the area emitting the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale's unique call without first sighting the animals, which are among the deepest-diving mammals in the world. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025 Parks closed, troops deployed for bears In Sapporo City, authorities closed Maruyama Park for two weeks following a bear sighting there. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sighting
  1. spotting
  2. noticing
  3. seeing
  4. regarding
Verb
  • Authorities in Indiana are warning residents to be vigilant after a person reported spotting a several-hundred-pound lioness and a large cub roaming in one central county.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Your best shot at spotting a rocket launch from Jacksonville is to get as close to the beach as possible or get away from trees to get a clear view of the sky and look due south.
    — Lianna Norman, Florida Times-Union, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of spotting
Verb
  • In one video from Mailung, in Nepal’s Rasuwa region, a group of construction workers was seen walking down a mountain path before noticing giant plumes of brown debris in the distance, rapidly cascading toward them.
    — Laura Saravia, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
  • As the children played and the adults talked, Rose kept noticing her husband looking toward the water, scanning the horizon.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of noticing
Verb
  • Lisa is seeing what this experience could be for her, which only emphasized just how bad her current situation on RHOSLC is.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Domagal-Goldman compared Roman’s capabilities to capturing an all-encompassing view of a forest as well as seeing sharp details of its trees, like leaves and birds, all at the same time.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of seeing
Verb
  • Finally, regarding Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, his tone has skewed dovish in recent months, favoring a wait-and-see approach to the impact of the Middle East conflict.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Communities from Lansing, Michigan, to Pflugerville, Texas, are ending their relationship with Flock, largely over concerns regarding out-of-control surveillance, unwanted data sharing, high expenses, and reports of police abusing the tool.
    — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of regarding

Browse Nearby Words

sighted
sighting
sightless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sighting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sighting. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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