envisaged

8 synonyms for envisaged, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — Imagined or pictured something as a future possibility; formed a mental picture of how something would be.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

proposed

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

imagined anticipated

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

envisioned foresaw conceived contemplated provided for

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb chiefly British

Imagined or pictured something as a future possibility; formed a mental picture of how something would be.

“The founders envisaged a company that would still be family-run in fifty years.”

envisioned imagined foresaw anticipated conceived

2. verb formal

Planned or intended something to happen in a particular way, especially in official or formal writing.

“The treaty envisaged a phased withdrawal of troops.”

proposed contemplated provided for

How to use envisaged

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

as originally envisaged envisaged that hard to envisage envisaged outcome

Common in policy documents, plans and contracts; slightly formal in everyday speech.

Etymology

From French envisager, from en- ('in') plus visage ('face'), originally meaning to look in the face of something.

Full origin of envisaged →

Frequently asked questions

Is it 'envisaged' or 'envisioned'?

Both are correct and mean much the same thing. 'Envisaged' is the usual form in British and Commonwealth English, while 'envisioned' dominates in American English. In formal documents and contracts, 'envisaged' is also the more common choice worldwide.

What is the difference between 'envisaged' and 'expected'?

'Expected' simply says you thought something would happen. 'Envisaged' says you actively pictured or planned it in a particular shape, so it carries a sense of design or intention rather than mere prediction.

Can you envisage a person doing something?

Yes. The pattern is 'envisage someone doing something', as in 'I can't envisage him agreeing to that.' Using 'to do' after it ('I can't envisage him to agree') is not idiomatic.

People also searched

proposed anticipated imagined

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of envisaged