strain to see

USAGE SUMMARY

"strain to see" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of trying very hard or expending a lot of effort to see something. Example: The crowd was so dense that Mary had to strain to see her favorite singer on stage.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The more you strain to see them, the more they shrivel into darkness.

The Guardian - Music

Moving on, we strain to see the buffalo herd in the distance.

The New York Times - Arts

As we strain to see the woman inside Temperley's portrait, Matalon, more often than not, gives us a caricature.

The New Yorker

And you take a closer look at certain details, if only because you have to strain to see them.

The New York Times - Arts

Perplexed at the sight of hawkers on a highway, I strain to see what they are trying to sell me.

The Guardian

Their eyes will strain to see the small print that closes each episode, identifying fragments of background music heard 30 or 40 minutes previously.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

About 800 balanced, tip-toed, peered and strained to see Navratilova play simple, near-perfect, serve-volley, chip-and-charge grass-court tennis against an opponent without much clue about playing on the stuff.

The Guardian - Sport

She strains to see.

The New Yorker

I strained to see her more clearly.

The New Yorker

People pushed forward, straining to see who had the microphone.

The New York Times - Arts

Four campaigns later, she strained to see Mr. Obama.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "strain to see" to describe situations where visibility is poor, or the object is distant or small.

Common error

Avoid using "strain to see" when a simpler verb like "look" or "observe" suffices. Overuse can make your writing sound awkward. Only use it when actual effort or difficulty in seeing is involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strain to see" functions as an infinitive phrase, often serving as an adverbial modifier to describe how an action is performed or to express purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "strain to see" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of making a conscious effort to see something, often under challenging viewing conditions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is generally correct and appears frequently in news and media, as well as in informal writing. While versatile, it's best used when emphasizing visual difficulty. Related phrases include "struggle to see" and "try hard to see", which can be employed for nuanced meanings. When using this expression, keep in mind its neutral register and avoid overuse to maintain writing clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

struggle to see

Emphasizes the difficulty experienced when trying to see.

try hard to see

Directly indicates the intensity of the effort to perceive visually.

endeavor to see

Highlights the effort and determination in attempting to see.

make an effort to see

Focuses on the conscious attempt and energy invested in seeing.

peer to see

Implies looking intently, often due to distance or poor visibility.

squint to see

Indicates narrowing the eyes to improve focus in seeing.

find it hard to see

Emphasizes the difficulty of the visual task.

look intently to see

Highlights a concentrated gaze aimed at perceiving something.

peep to see

Suggests a quick, furtive look with effort.

have difficulty seeing

Focuses on the challenge and limited ability to see clearly.

FAQs

How can I use "strain to see" in a sentence?

Use "strain to see" when you want to emphasize the difficulty or effort involved in perceiving something visually, as in "I had to strain to see through the fog".

What does it mean to "strain to see"?

"Strain to see" means to make a considerable effort to see something, often because it is difficult to see clearly due to distance, lighting, or other obstructions.

Which is more appropriate, "struggle to see" or "strain to see"?

Both "struggle to see" and "strain to see" can be used, but "strain to see" typically refers to a physical effort related to vision, while "struggle to see" can also imply a mental or emotional difficulty in understanding.

What are some alternatives to "strain to see"?

Some alternatives to "strain to see" include "peer to see", "squint to see", or "try hard to see", each offering a slightly different nuance related to the act of seeing with difficulty.