Visualizing: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when trying to form a mental image or understanding of a concept or situation, often used in personal development, meditation, and planning.

• She spent a few minutes visualizing her successful presentation before going on stage.
• Visualizing your goals can help to clarify what steps you need to take.

Used in mathematics, science, and data analysis to represent numerical or categorical data visually using graphs and charts.

• She spent the afternoon graphing the data from the recent survey.
• Graphing the results helped to identify trends in the experiment.

Commonly used in geography, navigation, and data analysis to create a visual representation of a specific area or information.

• The team is mapping out the safest routes for evacuations.
• Mapping the genome is a complex but rewarding task in modern biology.

Used when illustrating, representing, or describing something in a detailed and clear manner, often through art, writing, or film.

• The painting does a wonderful job of depicting the rural life in the 19th century.
• The movie did an excellent job of depicting the consequences of climate change.

Use when talking about creating a mental image of something, often in a detailed or structured way, possibly used in planning or problem-solving.

• She is visualizing her presentation for the meeting tomorrow.
• Athletes often use visualizing techniques to prepare for competitions.

Use when thinking creatively or forming new, often speculative, ideas in the mind, applicable in both realistic and fantastical contexts.

• The children are imagining what it would be like to live on a different planet.
• I keep imagining how our house would look with a new coat of paint.

Use when discussing creating a mental image of a future scenario, often with a focus on goals, strategies, or plans, usually more formal or professional than dreaming.

• She is envisioning a future where renewable energy is the primary source of power.
• The CEO is envisioning the company's growth over the next five years.

Use when referring to thoughts, visions, or fantasies, often during sleep or when thinking about future aspirations in a more whimsical or wishful manner.

• He spends a lot of time dreaming about becoming a famous musician.
• Last night, I was dreaming about flying over the mountains.