phraseC1
with the naked eye
/wɪð ðə ˌneɪkɪd ˈaɪ/You say this when something can be seen using only normal vision, without a telescope, binoculars, or another aid.
It is often used to distinguish what someone can see directly from what requires optical equipment, and can also describe things too small to see without a microscope.
EXAMPLES
- The Andromeda Galaxy is faint, but you can see it with the naked eye on a clear night.
- Several planets are visible with the naked eye this month.
- During totality, the Sun’s corona was visible with the naked eye.
SYNONYMS
without optical aidto the unaided eyewith unaided vision
ANTONYMS
through a telescopewith binocularsunder magnification
GRAMMAR
Fixed adverbial phrase · often follows see, observe, or visible.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS
see with the naked eyevisible with the naked eyeobserve with the naked eyenot visible with the naked eye
