Definition of bird's-eye view
1 : a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight
2 : an overall or cursory look at something
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share bird's-eye view
Time Traveler for bird's-eye view
The first known use of bird's-eye view was in 1771
See more words from the same year