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

• imagine
• envision
• see
• picture

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

To help visualize how the pelvic floor works, Piñero invites us to imagine a firm, elastic hammock strapped across the bottom of our lower abdomens. —Mónica Heras, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2025

Neither the matrix nor the embryo is naturally fluorescent, so the researchers had to rely on special techniques to visualize both. —Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025

To help bring their ideas to life, Boggs invited a creative friend to tape off the garage and visualize how it could be transformed into livable space. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025

The Journal Sentinel used data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Prediction Service to visualize just how fast — and how dramatically — the area's rivers rose during the 1,000-year flood. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for visualize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

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