sichten
to review
To look through, examine, and organize materials, documents, or information.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Umzug müssen wir erst einmal alle alten Unterlagen sichten.
Before the move, we first have to review all the old documents.
sichten
to review / to sight
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
sichten
to sight
To see or discover something or someone, often from a distance or only briefly. Often used in seafaring, aviation, or nature observation.
EXAMPLE
Vom Leuchtturm aus konnte der Wachmann ein Schiff am Horizont sichten.
From the lighthouse, the watchman was able to sight a ship on the horizon.
Usage tips
Word family
'Sichten' (to review/to sight) is closely related to the noun 'die Sicht' (view/sight) and the adjective 'sichtbar' (visible). Both meanings are connected with seeing: either looking through material carefully or actually catching sight of something.
EXAMPLE
Nachdem er die Dokumente gesichtet hatte, hatte er eine bessere Sicht auf das Problem.
After he had reviewed the documents, he had a better view of the problem.
Context clue
The object of the verb reveals the meaning. If it is a collection of things, e.g. 'Akten' (files) or 'Fotos' (photos), it means 'to examine'. If it is a single object in the distance, e.g. 'ein Schiff' (a ship) or 'die Küste' (the coast), it means 'to discover' or 'to sight'.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss noch die E-Mails von heute Morgen sichten.
I still have to review this morning's emails.
Typical objects
In the meaning 'to examine', 'sichten' (to review) almost always takes a plural object that represents a body of information. Typical objects are 'Unterlagen' (documents), 'Bewerbungen' (applications), 'Akten' (files), or 'Beweise' (evidence).
EXAMPLE
Die Personalabteilung sichtet gerade die eingegangenen Bewerbungen.
The HR department is currently reviewing the applications that have come in.
Typical context
The meaning 'to discover' or 'to sight' is often used in specific contexts such as seafaring, aviation, the military, or animal observation. It describes catching sight of something important or expected.
EXAMPLE
Der Kapitän sichtete endlich Land am Horizont.
The captain finally sighted land on the horizon.
Compare with
sehenentdeckenprüfenausmacheneinsehendurchgehendurchlesendurchschauenerblickenüberblickendurchblicken
sichten vs sehen
to see
Sehen is the neutral word for visual perception. Sichten is appropriate when someone discovers something, often from a distance, and consciously registers the observation, for example while observing nature. You can therefore sehen a whale; during a targeted count, you can sichten it.
sichten
Während der offiziellen Zählung sichtete Mia vom Boot aus einen Wal in der Ferne.
During the official count, Mia spotted a whale in the distance from the boat.
sehen
Während des Ausflugs sah Mia vom Boot aus einen Wal in der Ferne.
During the trip, Mia saw a whale in the distance from the boat.
In real life
Loading video examples...