Synonym Chooser

How is the word envision distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of envision are conceive, envisage, fancy, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

In what contexts can conceive take the place of envision?

Although the words conceive and envision have much in common, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

When can fancy be used instead of envision?

The meanings of fancy and envision largely overlap; however, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When is it sensible to use imagine instead of envision?

While the synonyms imagine and envision are close in meaning, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When is realize a more appropriate choice than envision?

The synonyms realize and envision are sometimes interchangeable, but realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

When could think be used to replace envision?

The words think and envision can be used in similar contexts, but think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

Examples 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 envision What will be key to success is executives who are leading any functional or business organization collaborating amongst themselves and with their technology partners to envision and create use cases that will grow their businesses. Billee Howard, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 The bathroom, meanwhile, is on the opposite side of the house to the living room and hosts a shower, sink, and camper-van-style cassette toilet, underlining again that this isn't envisioned as a full-time home. Adam Williams, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2024 The book envisioned companies would build autonmous agents and use small language models trained on high quality data from their own operations to achieve domain-specific solutions that would yield more value at a lower cost than large language models such as ChatGPT. Peter Cohan, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 This process, Musk envisions, would involve minimal paperwork, easing the path to approval. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for envision 

Thesaurus Entries Near envision

Cite this Entry

“Envision.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envision. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on envision

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!