vision

1 of 2

noun

vi·​sion ˈvi-zhən 

1

a

: the act or power of seeing : sight

b

: the special sense by which the qualities of an object (such as color, luminosity, shape, and size) constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve

2

a

: something seen in a dream, trance, or ecstasy

especially : a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation

b

: a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination

c

: a manifestation to the senses of something immaterial

look, not at visions, but at realities

—Edith Wharton

3

a

: the act or power of imagination

b(1)

: mode of seeing or conceiving

(2)

: unusual discernment or foresight

a person of vision

c

: direct mystical awareness of the supernatural usually in visible form

4

a

: something seen

b

: a lovely or charming sight

visional

ˈvizh-nəl

ˈvi-zhə-nᵊl 

adjective

visionally adverb

vision

2 of 2

verb

visioned; visioning ˈvi-zhə-niŋ 

ˈvizh-niŋ

transitive verb

: envision

Synonyms

Noun

• chimera
• conceit
• daydream
• delusion
• dream
• fancy
• fantasy
• phantasy
• figment
• hallucination
• illusion
• nonentity
• phantasm
• fantasm
• pipe dream
• unreality

Verb

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

Examples of vision in a Sentence

Noun

We had visions of fame and fortune.

the architect's vision for the new building

She had a clear vision of what she wanted to do.

He had a vision of Christ.

The idea came to me in a vision.

Verb

visioned her idea of the perfect meal

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Indeed, Reid’s vision has sone much to elevate New Zealand’s global reputation in the spirits industry. —Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Ultimately, Russell and his mother, April Moore, saw the vision. —Alec Lewis, New York Times, 17 June 2025

Verb

Managers and their co-workers need to work hard to establish the link between the team goals and the firms vision and show how their work can effect the performance of the organization. —Andrew Mawson, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024

In 2019, under the guidance of Assembly Chair Felix Rivera, the Assembly hired Laurie Wolf to facilitate a series of three strategic visioning meetings to better define our goals for years 2019-2021. —Anchorage Daily News, 28 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin vision-, visio, from vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1796, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vision

• beatific vision
• double vision
• dream vision
• field of vision
• line of vision
• night vision
• tunnel vision
• twenty-twenty vision
• vision quest

Rhymes for vision

• frisian
• scission
• abscission
• collision
• decision
• derision
• division
• elision
• envision
• excision
• incision
• misprision

Kids Definition

vision

1 of 2 noun

vi·​sion ˈvizh-ən 

1

a

: something seen in the mind (as during a dream)

b

: a vivid picture created by the imagination

c

: ghost

2

a

: the act or power of imagination

b

: unusual ability to think or plan ahead

people with vision building for the future

3

a

: the act or power of seeing : sight

b

: the sense by which the qualities of an object (as color, shape, and size) are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed into signals that pass to the brain

4

: something seen

especially : a lovely or charming sight

vision

2 of 2 verb

visioned; visioning ˈvizh-niŋ 

-ə-niŋ

: imagine sense 1

couldn't vision it happening

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vision "something seen in a dream or trance," from early French vision (same meaning), from Latin vision-, visio (same meaning), derived from vidēre "to see" — related to clairvoyance, evident, provide, supervise, visit

Medical Definition

vision

noun

vi·​sion ˈvizh-ən 

1

: the act or power of seeing : sight

2

: the special sense by which the qualities of an object (as color, luminosity, shape, and size) constituting its appearance are perceived through a process in which light rays entering the eye are transformed by the retina into electrical signals that are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve