visualize

verb

vi·​su·​al·​ize ˈvi-zhə-wə-ˌlīz 

ˈvi-zhə-ˌlīz,

ˈvizh-wə-ˌlīz

visualized; visualizing

transitive verb

: to make visible: such as

a

: to see or form a mental image of : envisage

trying to visualize the problem

b

: to make (an internal organ or part) visible by radiographic visualization

intransitive verb

: to form a mental visual image

Synonyms

• conceit [chiefly dialect]
• conceive
• conjure (up)
• dream
• envisage
• envision
• fancy
• fantasize
• fantasy
• feature
• ideate
• image
• imagine
• picture
• see
• vision

Examples of visualize in a Sentence

She tried to visualize the scene he was describing.

Before you swing, visualize yourself hitting the ball.

Recent Examples on the Web

His plan gave the opposing parties a chance to visualize what the quality of life could look like when tensions subside. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023

Just wanted great pictures that helped visualize the story and the emotion of the album. —Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023

Write down your intentions, visualize them or speak them aloud to the universe. —Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023

At its core, imagination is visualizing something that is not happening. —Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2023

The movie will carry the Climate Change Stripes created by Professor Ed Hawkins and Reading University, designed to visualize climate change and spark conversation. —Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2023

Other methods for uncalibrated devices use ultrasound waves to visualize variables such as artery dimensions and blood flow velocity, which are also related to blood pressure. —Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023

Other neat tricks include mimicking the turn signals and visualizing the EV's charging levels. —Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 3 Sep. 2023

Analyzing satellite images The Post used a special type of satellite imagery, processed and analyzed by Corey Scher, a researcher at the City University of New York, to estimate and visualize the extent of this flooding. —Pei-Lin Wu, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

visualize

verb

vi·​su·​al·​ize ˈvizh-(ə-)wə-ˌlīz 

ˈvizh-ə-ˌlīz

visualized; visualizing

: to make visible

especially : to form a mental image of

Medical Definition

visualize

transitive verb

vi·​su·​al·​ize

variants also British visualise

ˈvizh-(ə-)wə-ˌlīz, ˈvizh-ə-ˌlīz 

visualized also British visualised; visualizing also British visualising

: to make visible: as

a

: to see or form a mental image of

b

: to make (an organ) visible by radiographic visualization

visualize the gallbladder

c

: to prepare (as an organism or tissue) for microscopic examination especially by staining