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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The study illustrates this by contrasting two knowledge workers’ post-career lives—one who proactively envisioned a fulfilling retirement found happiness quickly, while the other became isolated and unhappy. Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 Instead, the Bears envision an offense with one of the best tight end duos in the NFL. Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025 The $11 million price tag is less than a third of the $35 million originally envisioned for the project, which included full-scale dredging, extensive improvements to encourage plants and wildlife and even moving an island on the northern side of the lake. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025 The company hopes to have four stations in operation in Hong Kong by the end of this year and ultimately envisions a citywide network of more than 200. Clay Chandler, Fortune, 19 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for envision

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of envision was in 1855

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Envision.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envision. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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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