picture

verb

pictured; picturing ˈpik-chə-riŋ 

ˈpik-shriŋ

transitive verb

1

: to form a mental image of : imagine

2

: to describe graphically in words

3

: to paint or draw a representation, image, or visual conception of : depict

also : illustrate

Synonyms of picture

• depict
• portray
• image

Examples of picture in a Sentence

I can still picture the house I grew up in.

I can't picture changing jobs at this point in my life.

Picture what it would be like if you didn't own a car.

Can you picture him as a teacher?

Recent Examples on the Web

As the journey progresses, a male driver and his female companion (neither pictured on-screen) begin to discuss the Winkie. —Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026

At the Thief Valley Reservoir, pictured in August 2024, fish that aren't caught by anglers are likely to be trapped in isolated pools and die by summer's end. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 2 June 2026

Her son Aire was pictured wearing a gray hooded tracksuit top and sweetly smiled for a selfie with his mom while sitting on her lap inside the plane. —Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026

One can picture a similar relief for Veeze, wresting control from the internet, letting his unfazed facade crack even if for just a moment. —Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing picture

• a picture is worth a thousand words
• (as) pretty as a picture
• big picture
• B picture
• enter the picture
• enter the picture/scene
• get the picture
• in the picture
• keep someone in the picture
• motion picture
• moving picture
• out of the picture
• paint a rosy picture
• paint/draw a picture of
• picture book
• picture card
• picture frame
• picture hat
• picture-perfect
• picture-postcard
• picture puzzle
• picture tube
• picture window
• picture writing
• put someone in the picture
• the picture of
• the picture of health

Rhymes for picture

• stricture

Kids Definition

picture

1 of 2 noun

pic·​ture ˈpik-chər 

1

: a design or image made on a surface (as by painting, drawing, or photography)

2

a

: a clear description in words

the book gives us a picture of another way of life

b

: a mental image : idea

do you get the picture?

3

: a particular combination of circumstances : situation

an improvement of the economic picture

4

a

: an exact likeness : copy

b

: a perfect symbol of something : embodiment

the picture of health

5

a

: an image on a screen

b

: motion picture

picture adjective

picture

2 of 2 verb

pictured; picturing ˈpik-chə-riŋ 

ˈpik-shriŋ

1

: to draw or paint a picture of : depict

2

: to describe vividly

3

: to form a mental image of : imagine