1
as in depicting
to present a picture of
the famous painting that pictures the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in imagining
to form a mental picture of
could easily picture the mining town from the vivid description of it in the author's memoirs
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in describing
to give a representation or account of in words
pictured the sailing ship in vivid language
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in drawing
to make a representation of by producing lines on a surface
the next assignment is to picture your own face using colored pencils
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of picturing
When picturing a predator, most people envision an animal with immense speed, sharp teeth or deadly venom.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Like many abstract artists before her, Colón, who was born in Canada to a Puerto Rican father and now lives in Los Angeles, is enamored of picturing the world in its most fundamental form, and maybe even evoking something like the universal.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Nobody’s picturing the same exact one tiny flower.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
The trio created fake Minnesota temporary drivers’ licenses using false names, with each license picturing one of the Thomases, federal prosecutors said.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
For anyone picturing a Foot Locker-like store with kitschy artificial grass rugs and goal posts, think again.
—Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of picturing that exercise as long and gruesome, try breaking it up.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Since the opening, staff have seen cans fly off shelves, faucets left on and guests have taken photos picturing a vague outline of a woman.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Like many abstract artists before her, Colón, who was born in Canada to a Puerto Rican father and now lives in Los Angeles, is enamored of picturing the world in its most fundamental form, and maybe even evoking something like the universal.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Nobody’s picturing the same exact one tiny flower.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 6 Apr. 2026
The trio created fake Minnesota temporary drivers’ licenses using false names, with each license picturing one of the Thomases, federal prosecutors said.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
For anyone picturing a Foot Locker-like store with kitschy artificial grass rugs and goal posts, think again.
—Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Feb. 2026
Instead of picturing that exercise as long and gruesome, try breaking it up.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Since the opening, staff have seen cans fly off shelves, faucets left on and guests have taken photos picturing a vague outline of a woman.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picturing
Verb
-
The Christ-like image and a video Trump posted depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes were both deleted after backlash.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
-
Wynn, who died last spring and for whom a wing of Zumthor’s aerodynamic structure is named, donated a Francis Bacon triptych depicting Bacon’s friend and fellow-painter Lucian Freud, the only Bacons on display in a public Los Angeles museum.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
So Andersen arrived, imagining that the children would adore him and his work the way Danish children did.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
Though Savage’s silence is shocking in the context of imagining these people all working together as children, blocking someone’s number is not an inherently violent action.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Kardashian has been one of the most vocal celebrities about using exercise to relieve stress, describing the gym as essential for clearing her head and managing anxiety.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
-
Officials in neighboring Boston are excited about the temporary flexibility, describing the extended last call as an economic boon, not just during the World Cup but also other high-level summer events.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
In Game 3, Wembanyama shocked Knicks fans by pushing Jalen Brunson to the floor without drawing a foul.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
-
Indonesia is drawing the wrong kind of attention in emerging‑market circles.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Among them was Viola Davis, who earned her second Oscar nomination for portraying Aibileen Clark, a maid working for a white family in the 1960s.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
He's played by Jamie Hector, best known for portraying Jerry Edgar on Bosch and gangster Marlo Stanfield on The Wire.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Experts from around the globe are already busy envisioning creative applications for artificial intelligence in space.—
Michael P. Dempsey,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2026
-
Vergne will be in charge of overseeing the museum’s public programming, exhibitions and artistic direction, as well as strengthening relationships with international partner institutions and re-envisioning the museum’s curatorial scope.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
In the hours leading up to a decisive Game 3 victory in the 2026 NBA Finals—the first such game in New York City in 25 years—the 7-Foot-4 Frenchman spent the afternoon in Gramercy sketching.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
9 June 2026
-
Rather than solving puzzles one by one, Tao began sketching out a rough diagram that showed how different possible algebraic laws relate to one another.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Quick hits Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade, who is seeing time at safety, blitzed Pickett for a would-be sack during 11-on-11 work.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
-
As the top marketing and strategy officer for Lumen Technologies, Ryan Asdourian never tires of seeing his company’s name atop the Seattle Seahawks stadium, Lumen Field.—
Les Carpenter,
Washington Post,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Picturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picturing. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
