in sight

USAGE SUMMARY

"in sight" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are describing something that is visible to the naked eye and within range. For example, "We could see the shore in sight at last."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No driver in sight.

The New Yorker

No judge in sight.

The New Yorker

Victory in sight.

Independent

No water in sight.

The New York Times

I'll stay in sight".

The New Yorker

No computer in sight.

The New York Times

No yellow in sight.

The New York Times

"Keep your hands in sight.

The New York Times

And no strollers in sight.

The New York Times

But none are in sight.

The New York Times

There's no letup in sight.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in sight" to indicate that something is visible or close, whether physically or metaphorically. For example, "The finish line was in sight," or "With a solution in sight, the team felt more motivated."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "in sight" with "insight", which refers to understanding. "In sight" means visible, while "insight" means a deep understanding of something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in sight" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying verbs to indicate visibility or proximity. Ludwig provides many examples where the phrase indicates something can be seen or is figuratively near.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in sight" is a versatile expression used to describe something that is visible or figuratively near. As evidenced by the numerous examples from Ludwig, it's commonly found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Wiki sources, showing its widespread applicability. Keep in mind not to confuse "in sight" with "insight", and leverage this phrase to enhance your writing with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

visible

Single word replacement focusing only on the property of being possible to see.

within view

Indicates something is located inside a space where it's possible to see.

on the horizon

Implies something is likely to happen or appear soon.

coming into view

Describes the action of something becoming visible.

apparent

Highlights the characteristic of being easily understood or clearly visible.

discernible

Emphasizes the possibility to distinguish or perceive something.

perceptible

Stresses the ability to be noticed or felt.

at hand

Highlights nearness in time or space.

drawing near

Focuses on the approach or imminence of something.

in range

Indicates that something is within a specified distance or scope.

FAQs

How can I use "in sight" in a sentence?

"In sight" indicates that something is visible or near. For example, "The coast was finally "in sight" after days at sea" or "With the deadline "in sight", the team worked tirelessly.

What's a good alternative to "in sight"?

Depending on the context, you could use "visible", "within view", or "on the horizon". Each carries a slightly different nuance.

Is "in sight" formal or informal?

"In sight" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

How is "in sight" different from "out of sight"?

"In sight" means something is visible, while "out of sight" means it is not. They are direct antonyms describing opposite states of visibility.