visions

IPA/ˈvɪʒ.ən/
KK[vˈɪʒənz]IPA/ˈvɪʒ.ən/

visions — noun

  • visionssingular
  • visionsesplural

1. a picture in your mind of what something could be like in the future — for examp

1.nounB1
Definition

a picture in your mind of what something could be like in the future — for example, your dream home, a new project, or how a company might grow

Example

Eve had clear visions of her dream house with a large garden.

have visions of + noun phrase for mental images of a future scenario

The architect shared her visions for a new park with playgrounds and walking paths.

Common collocations
  • have a vision of
  • have visions of
  • visions for the future
  • share visions
  • dreams and visions
  • a clear vision
Synonyms
  • dream

    more personal and emotional than 'vision'; less about planning

  • idea

    more general; a vision is a more detailed and complete idea about the future

  • concept

    more abstract and technical; used in business or design contexts

Grammar Patterns

have a vision of something

have visions of something

Usage Note

Often used with possessive adjectives (my, her, his, their) or after 'have'. The singular 'vision' can replace 'visions' when speaking about one clear idea.

Common Mistakes

I have vision to start a business.
I have a vision of starting a business.
Add 'a' and use 'of' or 'for' after the noun.
She has many vision for the future.
She has many visions for the future.
'Vision' in this sense is countable, so use the plural 'visions' with 'many'.

2. something that you seem to see while awake even though it is not really there, o

2.nounB2
Definition

something that you seem to see while awake even though it is not really there, often happening during deep religious thought, prayer, or as a result of illness or drugs

Example

The monk described having visions of angels during his long nights of prayer.

have visions of + supernatural beings

After days without food and water, the traveller began to experience strange visions.

Common collocations
  • have a vision
  • experience visions
  • see visions
  • religious visions
  • mystical visions
  • prophetic visions
  • visions of angels
Synonyms
  • hallucination

    medical or psychological term; may imply illness rather than religious experience

  • revelation

    suggests a divine message is being communicated through the vision

  • apparition

    focuses on the figure seen, rather than the whole experience

Grammar Patterns

have visions

see visions

experience visions

Usage Note

In this sense 'visions' is typically used in the plural or with an article ('a vision'). Often appears in religious, mystical, or medical contexts.

Common Mistakes

She saw a vision in her dream.
She had a vision while she was awake.
A vision happens when you are awake, not during ordinary sleep.

3. the capacity to picture a better future and make wise plans to turn that picture

3.nounB2
Definition

the capacity to picture a better future and make wise plans to turn that picture into reality

Example

The company's success was due to the founder's vision in predicting market trends.

possessive + vision in + gerund for someone's foresight in an area

A good leader needs vision to guide a country through difficult economic times.

Common collocations
  • lack vision
  • show vision
  • have the vision to
  • demonstrate vision
  • political vision
  • artistic vision
  • business vision
Synonyms
  • foresight

    focuses on predicting problems, while 'vision' focuses on imagining a better future

  • imagination

    broader and less tied to planning; you can imagine anything

  • insight

    more about understanding the present situation deeply than imagining the future

Grammar Patterns

have the vision to do something

show vision

Usage Note

This sense is uncountable — do not use 'a vision' or 'visions' for this meaning. Frequently combines with 'lack', 'have', 'show', 'demonstrate'.

Common Mistakes

He has many visions as a leader.
He has great vision as a leader.
In the sense of foresight, 'vision' is uncountable.
The manager had no visions for the team.
The manager had no vision for the team.
Use the singular uncountable form for leadership ability.

4. the physical ability to see things with your eyes

4.nounA2
Definition

the physical ability to see things with your eyes

Example

The doctor told Cyrus that his vision was fine and he did not need glasses.

possessive + vision + be + adjective — stating someone's eyesight quality

Some animals have much better night vision than humans do.

Common collocations
  • poor vision
  • good vision
  • night vision
  • peripheral vision
  • double vision
  • lose your vision
  • test your vision
Synonyms
  • sight

    more neutral and equally common; 'sight' sometimes focuses on the act of seeing

  • eyesight

    everyday word for the quality of your vision

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

have good/poor vision

lose your vision

Usage Note

Always singular in this sense. 'Visions' does not apply to physical sight. Use 'vision' without an article when speaking generally: 'Vision is one of our five senses.'

Common Mistakes

My visions are getting worse.
My vision is getting worse.
Use the singular form for eyesight.
I have a poor vision.
I have poor vision.
Do not use an article before 'vision' when it refers to the ability to see.

5. a person or thing that is so beautiful or impressive that it looks like somethin

5.nounC1
Definition

a person or thing that is so beautiful or impressive that it looks like something from a dream or painting

Example

Dressed in her wedding gown, Élise was a vision of beauty and grace.

a vision of [quality] — formula for describing someone's striking appearance

The garden in full spring bloom was a vision of colourful flowers and sweet scents.

Common collocations
  • a vision of beauty
  • a vision of loveliness
  • a vision of elegance
  • a vision in white/black
Synonyms
  • picture

    more informal; 'she looked a picture' means she looked lovely but less dramatic

  • sight for sore eyes

    idiomatic and informal; suggests relief as well as beauty

Grammar Patterns

a vision of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Almost always used in the fixed expression 'a vision of [abstract noun]' (beauty, loveliness, elegance). This is a literary or slightly old-fashioned usage.

Common Mistakes

She was a vision.' (without context)
She was a vision of loveliness in her silk dress.
The phrase works best when you add 'of + quality' to specify.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Vision, foresight, insight, imagination, and outlook all involve thinking about the future or understanding situations, but each has a different emphasis. Vision is the creative ability to imagine a desired future and inspire others to work toward it. Foresight is more practical — the skill of predicting what will happen and preparing for it, often based on past experience. Insight means understanding the true nature of a current situation, seeing below the surface. Imagination is the broadest term, covering any creative mental activity, whether realistic or not. Outlook refers to a general attitude toward the future rather than a specific plan. For example, a good leader uses vision to set direction, foresight to anticipate problems, insight to understand team dynamics, imagination to solve problems creatively, and a positive outlook to keep morale high.

foresight ↗insight ↗imagination ↗outlook ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in your mind's eye
  • a glimpse of the future

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'visio' (the act of seeing, sight), which comes from 'videre' (to see). The word passed into English through Old French 'vision'. Originally it referred only to physical sight. By the 14th century it had developed the meaning of 'a supernatural apparition'. The sense of 'a mental image of the future' appeared in the 19th century, and the leadership meaning — combining imagination with practical planning — became common in the 20th century.

First known use

13th century

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