See someone off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "See someone off" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you accompany someone to a departure point, like an airport or train station, to say goodbye. For example: "I went to the airport to see my friend off before her flight." Alternative expressions include "send someone off" and "farewell someone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Akhmatova wrote that by 1935 every time she went to see someone off at the train station as they went into exile, she'd find herself greeting friends at every step as so many of St Petersburg's intellectual and cultural figures would be leaving on the same train.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It should be more like seeing someone off on a great adventure.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The firm's local staff caught the mistake: to "give a clock" in Chinese sounds the same as "seeing someone off to his end".

The New York Times

Yet again I found myself seeing someone off at the airport - as if I didn't have enough of it last week.

The Guardian - Travel

By R. H. Lampee and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, August 15 , 1936P. 9 A man walking back cross-town after having seen someone off from one of the North River piers, was accosted by a gloomy man who said, "Are you a cynic like all the rest, or will you give me a dime?" View Article By Troy Patterson By Phil Klay By John Cassidy By Amy Davidson Sorkin.

The New Yorker

You get off your horse and skin it, draping the skin over the back of your horse before seeing someone off in the distance that looks stranded.

Forbes

Remember the good old days when if you were seeing someone off, you could nonchalantly walk all the way to the gate with them?

Huffington Post

Whenever we see someone on the street we just walk off don't we?

WikiHow

I unfortunately caught him and you never want to see someone go off like that early in a game.

The Guardian - Sport

The first time you see someone leap off a bridge, you have to fight the impulse to grab him.

The New York Times - Travel

The performers are frequently suffering from alcohol-induced nervous exhaustion, and you might get to see someone take off their clothes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Recognize that the phrase implies a social obligation or a gesture of affection rather than a mere logistical task.

Common error

Avoid using "see someone off" if you are simply driving them to a location and leaving immediately. In such cases, use "drop someone off" instead. "See someone off" requires your presence during the departure phase itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "See someone off" functions as a transitive phrasal verb. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it is used to describe the action of accompanying a departing individual to their point of exit. It is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the object can be placed between "see" and "off".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Reference

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "See someone off" is a versatile and essential phrasal verb in English, correctly identified by Ludwig AI as a standard way to describe parting gestures. Whether used in the context of a "great adventure" or a solemn exile, the phrase captures the bridge between staying and leaving. Ludwig data highlights its prevalence in high-quality journalism, reinforcing its status as a robust choice for writers seeking to describe departures with clarity and social nuance. While closely related to "send someone off", it uniquely emphasizes the act of witnessing the departure itself.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Send someone off

Implies a more active or organized gesture of departure, often involving a group or event.

Bid someone farewell

Much more formal and literary, used for significant departures or final goodbyes.

Say goodbye

The most basic and general alternative for the act of parting.

Wave someone off

Focuses specifically on the visual act of waving as the person physically leaves.

See someone to the door

Specifies the location of the departure, usually in a home or office context.

Escort someone out

Can sound more formal or mandatory, sometimes implying the person is being led away.

Drop someone off

Focuses on the transportation aspect rather than the emotional act of saying goodbye.

Accompany someone to their gate

A more literal and descriptive way to explain the specific location of the send-off.

Walk someone out

Informal and implies walking with the person as they leave a building.

Give someone a send-off

Uses a noun phrase to describe a social gathering or party held before departure.

FAQs

What is the meaning of "See someone off"?

The phrase "See someone off" means to go to a place like an airport, station or port to say goodbye to someone who is starting a journey.

Can I say "send someone off" instead?

Yes, you can use "send someone off" as a close alternative, though it often suggests a more formal or celebratory event, like a farewell party.

How do you use "See someone off" in a sentence?

A typical usage would be: "We went to the station to see him off on his journey to London".

Is it more formal to say "bid farewell"?

Yes, "bid farewell" is significantly more formal and is rarely used in everyday spoken English compared to "See someone off".