vision
VIHZH-uhn
Vision (noun) means the ability to see; eyesight. Example: “His vision had worsened, so he finally got reading glasses.”
noun
1
The ability to see; eyesight.
"His vision had worsened, so he finally got reading glasses."
"Her vision is so poor that she cannot read the board without glasses."
"Owls have remarkable night vision, which helps them hunt in the dark."
2
A mental image of what the future could or should be; an idea guiding long-term plans.
"The founder shared her vision for the company at the all-hands meeting."
"Our vision for the town includes more parks and safer cycle paths."
"Without a clear vision, the team kept changing direction every few weeks."
3
Something experienced in a dream, trance, or supernatural episode.
"The prophet described a vision that had come to him in the night."
"In her vision, she saw a white horse standing in a field of light."
"The old story tells of a villager who had a strange vision during the storm."
verb
1
To imagine or picture something clearly.
"He could vision the finished garden long before the first seed was sown."
"Can you vision yourself living by the sea in ten years?"
"She visioned a quieter life once the kids left home."
How to use vision
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the physical sense of sight, or a clear mental picture of a future goal or plan.
Common pairings
20/20 vision
a vision for the future
blurred vision
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like vision.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- visions
- Third person singular
- visions
- Past tense
- visioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ had worsened, so he finally got reading glasses.
Etymology
From Old French vision, from Latin visio, "a seeing," from videre, "to see."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for vision
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for vision →
Frequently asked questions
What does “vision” mean?
The word “vision” means the ability to see; eyesight. In plain terms, either the physical sense of sight, or a clear mental picture of a future goal or plan.
How do you pronounce “vision”?
“Vision” is pronounced VIHZH-uhn (/ˈvɪʒ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “vision” in a sentence?
Here is “vision” used in a sentence: “His vision had worsened, so he finally got reading glasses.”
What is another word for “vision”?
Words with a similar meaning to “vision” include ken.
What is the opposite of “vision”?
The opposite of “vision” — its antonyms — are ablepsia, blindness, cecity, farsightedness and hyperopia.
What part of speech is “vision”?
Depending on how it is used, “vision” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “vision” come from?
The word “vision” comes from Latin. From Old French vision, from Latin visio, "a seeing," from videre, "to see.".
Is “vision” a common word?
“Vision” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between vision and sight?
Sight is the basic physical ability to see — light entering the eye and forming an image. Vision often means the same thing but can carry a fuller sense, including how the brain interprets what the eyes detect. Vision also has a figurative meaning that sight lacks: imaginative foresight or a plan for the future.
Can vision be improved?
Often, yes. Blurred eyesight can frequently be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or laser surgery, and eye exercises may help certain conditions. Some loss of vision from age or disease cannot be reversed, though. Regular eye tests are the best way to catch and treat problems before they worsen.
What are the types of vision?
Eyesight is described in several ways: central vision, the sharp detail you see when looking straight ahead, and peripheral vision at the edges. Others include colour vision, night vision in low light, and binocular vision, where both eyes work together for depth. '20/20 vision' describes normal sharpness of sight.
Does vision only mean eyesight?
No. Alongside the literal sense of seeing, vision commonly means imaginative insight — the ability to picture and plan for the future, as in 'a leader with vision' or 'a vision for the company'. It can also mean something seen in a dream or the imagination, such as a prophetic vision.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include vision:
