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adj B1 Intermediate Common

visual

VIH-zhoo-uhl

Visual (adj) means relating to sight, or able to be seen. Example: “The film relies heavily on visual storytelling rather than dialogue.”

adj
1
Relating to sight, or able to be seen.
"The film relies heavily on visual storytelling rather than dialogue."
"There was no visual sign of damage to the car."
noun
1
An image, picture, or graphic used to support or illustrate something.
"The presentation needs a few more visuals to keep people engaged."

How to Use Visual

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do with seeing, or a picture/graphic itself.

Common pairings
visual aid visual effects add some visuals

Word Forms

more visual comparative, visuals plural, most visual superlative

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Test yourself on “visual” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The film relies heavily on _____ storytelling rather than dialogue.

Etymology

From Late Latin visualis, "of sight," from Latin visus, "sight" — from videre, "to see."

Origin: Late Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for visual

See all rhymes for visual →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “visual” mean?

The word “visual” means relating to sight, or able to be seen. In plain terms, to do with seeing, or a picture/graphic itself.

How do you pronounce “visual”?

“Visual” is pronounced VIH-zhoo-uhl (/ˈvɪʒuəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “visual” in a sentence?

Here is “visual” used in a sentence: “The film relies heavily on visual storytelling rather than dialogue.”

What part of speech is “visual”?

Depending on how it is used, “visual” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “visual” come from?

The word “visual” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin visualis, "of sight," from Latin visus, "sight" — from videre, "to see.".

Is “visual” a common word?

“Visual” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “visual” have?

“Visual” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to sight, or able to be seen.

What is the difference between visual and visible?

"Visual" means relating to sight or to seeing in general, as in visual arts or a visual display. "Visible" means specifically able to be seen, present to the eye. A chart is a visual aid; a distant ship is visible on the horizon. Visual describes the sense; visible describes what that sense can detect.

What is a visual learner?

A visual learner is someone who understands and remembers information best when it is presented through images, diagrams, charts, colours, and written text rather than through listening alone. It is one of several commonly described learning styles, alongside auditory and hands-on approaches, though experts debate how fixed these styles really are.

What is an example of something visual?

Photographs, films, paintings, maps, charts, and infographics are all visual, because they communicate through sight. In everyday use, a "visual" can also be a single image or graphic used in a presentation or advert. Anything you take in mainly with your eyes qualifies.

What is the difference between visual and audio?

Visual refers to what is seen, such as images, text, video, and graphics, while audio refers to what is heard, such as speech, music, and sound effects. Media like film and television combine both, but the visual channel reaches the eyes and the audio channel reaches the ears.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial