vi·su·al
ˈvi-zhə-wəl 
-zhəl;
ˈvizh-wəl
1
: of, relating to, or used in vision
visual organs
2
: attained or maintained by sight
visual impressions
3
: visible
visual objects
4
: producing mental images : vivid
5
: done or executed by sight only
visual navigation
6
: of, relating to, or employing visual aids
: something (such as a graphic) that appeals to the sight and is used for effect or illustration
—usually used in plural
Synonyms
Examples of visual in a Sentence
Adjective
color, shape, and other visual attributes
She appreciates the visual arts such as painting and film.
Maps are a visual tool for learning.
Noun
Should I include some visuals in my presentation?
a film director known for his powerful visuals
Recent Examples on the Web
Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024
The goal was to enhance the area's visual landscape and foster community engagement.
—Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 22 Apr. 2024
Jam bands, of course, have a long history of elaborate visual presentations.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Previous research found sleeping pigeons experience brain activity in regions linked to visual processing and signals from the wings—suggesting the common city birds might dream of flight.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Thermaltake also equips that section with separate headphone and microphone jacks (rather than a four-pole combo jack), using power and reset buttons to set the space’s visual boundaries.
—PCMAG, 21 Apr. 2024
Its importance even transcends music: The album’s famed cover—featuring Nasir Jones as a child, with a photo of the Queensbridge Houses as the backdrop—has inspired visual artists.
—C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Elgato is targeting people participating in online sales, video podcasts, events, product demonstrations, community building, and other areas where audio and visual content has been growing in recent years.
—Tom Warren, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
For Anastasio, the Vegas gigs will offer a chance to experiment with a new venue packed with sonic and visual opportunities.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
Running off of a Intel 12th Generation Core i7 processor with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 handling the visuals, output is stable and speedy.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
The viral footage, among other visuals shared on social media, quickly opened the floodgates.
—Leda Joy Abkenari, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The museum’s April 8 programming begins at 10:00 a.m. PST and includes four streams: live coverage in both English and Spanish; a real-time telescope feed from Torreón, Mexico; and the musical sonification, which will accompany the visuals streamed from Junction.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Even from miles away, the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is a jarring visual: Chunks of steel jut above the water like metallic icebergs.
—Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Depending on its features, a crib mobile can also serve as a sound machine and provide a relaxing visual as your baby drifts off to sleep.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 26 Mar. 2024
Those visuals are at the opposite ends of a broad spectrum of photos The Star’s team of visual journalists captured throughout a year filled with soaring highs, gut wrenching lows, and moments in between.
—Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Today, their bond extends beyond mere inspiration, with her brother actively contributing to the production and visuals of her most recent music while also serving as her lead drummer on tour, underscoring the enduring strength of their bond and creative synergy.
—Dr. Brittany Chambers, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Adjective
In the summer of 2023, Carrefour Feuilles, a district in Port-au-Prince that many writers, visual artists, and musicians call home, was attacked by armed criminal groups.
—Edwidge Danticat, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024
The goal was to enhance the area's visual landscape and foster community engagement.
—Stacy Ryburn, arkansasonline.com, 22 Apr. 2024
Jam bands, of course, have a long history of elaborate visual presentations.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Previous research found sleeping pigeons experience brain activity in regions linked to visual processing and signals from the wings—suggesting the common city birds might dream of flight.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
Thermaltake also equips that section with separate headphone and microphone jacks (rather than a four-pole combo jack), using power and reset buttons to set the space’s visual boundaries.
—PCMAG, 21 Apr. 2024
Its importance even transcends music: The album’s famed cover—featuring Nasir Jones as a child, with a photo of the Queensbridge Houses as the backdrop—has inspired visual artists.
—C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Elgato is targeting people participating in online sales, video podcasts, events, product demonstrations, community building, and other areas where audio and visual content has been growing in recent years.
—Tom Warren, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024
For Anastasio, the Vegas gigs will offer a chance to experiment with a new venue packed with sonic and visual opportunities.
—Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
On his Instagram, the designer posted a visual to associate with the collection.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024
Running off of a Intel 12th Generation Core i7 processor with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 handling the visuals, output is stable and speedy.
—K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
The viral footage, among other visuals shared on social media, quickly opened the floodgates.
—Leda Joy Abkenari, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The museum’s April 8 programming begins at 10:00 a.m. PST and includes four streams: live coverage in both English and Spanish; a real-time telescope feed from Torreón, Mexico; and the musical sonification, which will accompany the visuals streamed from Junction.
—Aaron Boorstein, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Even from miles away, the destruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is a jarring visual: Chunks of steel jut above the water like metallic icebergs.
—Eduardo Medina, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Depending on its features, a crib mobile can also serve as a sound machine and provide a relaxing visual as your baby drifts off to sleep.
—Bridget Shirvell, Parents, 26 Mar. 2024
Those visuals are at the opposite ends of a broad spectrum of photos The Star’s team of visual journalists captured throughout a year filled with soaring highs, gut wrenching lows, and moments in between.
—Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2024
Today, their bond extends beyond mere inspiration, with her brother actively contributing to the production and visuals of her most recent music while also serving as her lead drummer on tour, underscoring the enduring strength of their bond and creative synergy.
—Dr. Brittany Chambers, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'visual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near visual
Cite this Entry
“Visual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/visual. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
visual
1 of 2 adjective
vi·su·al
ˈvizh-(ə-)wəl
ˈvizh-əl
1
: of, relating to, or used in vision
visual organs
2
: received by sight
visual impressions
3
: visible sense 1
visual objects
4
: of, relating to, or using visual aids
a visual presentation
visual
2 of 2 noun
: something (as a picture, chart, or film) that appeals to the sight and is used to illustrate, demonstrate, or advertise
—usually used in plural
Medical Definition
visual
adjective
vi·su·al
ˈvizh-(ə-)wəl, ˈvizh-əl
1
: of, relating to, or used in vision
visual organs
2
: attained or maintained by sight
visual impressions
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