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 Regarding the conversion plans for The James in downtown San Jose, one scenario on file for the proposal envisions the creation of eight studios and a single one-bedroom apartment. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Black holes are of course notoriously difficult to study and observe, but the researchers envision a violent, chaotic place for the object, believed to be the brightest in the universe. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 According to research, the effects of the default mode network include mind wandering, remembering past experiences, thinking about others’ mental states, envisioning the future and processing language. Nora Bradford, WIRED, 3 Mar. 2024 The United States and its negotiating partners, Qatar and Egypt, have also envisioned a second cease-fire phase that would lead to the release of remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers, and a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 Work Backwards Start by identifying your biggest goal and envisioning what the end result will look like for you. Britney Porter, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Also, the Chiefs don’t plan to create a shopping or entertainment district around Arrowhead, like the Royals are envisioning in the Crossroads. Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024 Eventually, Musk envisions a Hyperloop system that will have people traveling at hundreds of miles an hour. Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Growing up in northern New Jersey, Youssef, 32, didn’t envision a future in comedy. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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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