envision

verb

en·​vi·​sion in-ˈvi-zhən How to pronounce envision (audio)
en-
envisioned; envisioning; envisions

transitive verb

: to picture to oneself
envisions a career dedicated to promoting peace
Choose the Right Synonym for envision

think, conceive, imagine, fancy, realize, envisage, envision mean to form an idea of.

think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

Examples of envision in a Sentence

The inventor envisioned many uses for his creation. She envisioned a better life for herself.
Recent Examples on the Web Famed physicist Richard Feynman envisioned this possibility more than 40 years ago. Daniel Lidar, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2023 Amtrak has a long-term plan that envisions adding higher-speed corridors throughout the country by 2035. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023 Hamas envisioned deeper attacks, aiming to provoke an Israeli war Gaza’s summer of peace — and Israel’s sense of security — has given way to unprecedented destruction on both sides of the barrier. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023 As envisioned by Power San Diego’s backers, the price tag would be paid through a municipal revenue bond. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023 American Hostage, where Hamm will reprise his podcast role as Heckman, is being shopped this week and early next with buyers expected to line up for the drama, which Ryan envisions as an anthology with a different hostage case every season. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2023 His company could build and operate as much as 7 million square feet of property in Woodland Hills as envisioned under the city’s Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan. Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 As wartime passions splinter the left, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, whose boosters envision her eventually running for the presidency, is laboring to hold together a consequential but delicate coalition that has pushed the Democratic Party leftward on climate, policing and economics. Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2023 Musk originally envisioned the vehicle to be used to help humanity get to Mars, which remains SpaceX’s ultimate goal. Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 10 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'envision.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of envision was in 1855

Dictionary Entries Near envision

Cite this Entry

“Envision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envision. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

envision

verb
en·​vi·​sion in-ˈvizh-ən How to pronounce envision (audio)
: to picture to oneself
envisions herself as a doctor
could not envision the building from the description

More from Merriam-Webster on envision

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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