picture

1 of 2

noun

pic·​ture ˈpik-chər How to pronounce picture (audio)
Synonyms of picturenext
1
: a design or representation made by various means (such as painting, drawing, or photography)
2
a
: a description so vivid or graphic as to suggest a mental image or give an accurate idea of something
the book gives a detailed picture of what is happening
b
: a mental image
3
: image, copy
he was the picture of his father
she was the very picture of health
4
a
: a transitory visible image or reproduction
b
: movie sense 1
c
pictures plural : movies
5
: tableau sense 2
6
: situation
took a hard look at his financial picture

picture

2 of 2

verb

pictured; picturing ˈpik-chə-riŋ How to pronounce picture (audio)
ˈpik-shriŋ

transitive verb

1
: to form a mental image of : imagine
2
: to describe graphically in words
3
: to paint or draw a representation, image, or visual conception of : depict
also : illustrate

Synonyms of picture

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of picture in a Sentence

Noun I hung the picture on the wall. The book has a lot of pictures. Draw a picture of your house. The staff looked at the financial picture of the company. The overall economic picture is improving. Verb I can still picture the house I grew up in. I can't picture changing jobs at this point in my life. Picture what it would be like if you didn't own a car. Can you picture him as a teacher?
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The president’s photo is based on his picture at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Ahead of the center’s ribbon-cutting, CEO and President Kara Waddell painted a picture of a student-parent showing up for their first day of school while carrying their school supplies and their child. — Lina Ruiz september 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
Members of the army were pictured securing them to beds and giving them medical treatment. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Camilo Séptimo was formed in Mexico City in 2013 by Meléndez (pictured above, right) singer Manuel Mendoza and guitarist Erik Vázquez. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for picture

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin pictura, from pictus, past participle of pingere to paint — more at paint

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of picture was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing picture

Rhymes for picture

See All Rhymes for picture

Browse Nearby Words

pictural
picture
picture-book
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Picture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picture. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

picture

1 of 2 noun
pic·​ture ˈpik-chər How to pronounce picture (audio)
1
: a design or image made on a surface (as by painting, drawing, or photography)
2
a
: a clear description in words
the book gives us a picture of another way of life
b
: a mental image : idea
do you get the picture?
3
: a particular combination of circumstances : situation
an improvement of the economic picture
4
a
: an exact likeness : copy
b
: a perfect symbol of something : embodiment
the picture of health
5
a
: an image on a screen
b
: motion picture
picture adjective

picture

2 of 2 verb
pictured; picturing ˈpik-chə-riŋ How to pronounce picture (audio)
ˈpik-shriŋ
1
: to draw or paint a picture of : depict
2
: to describe vividly
3
: to form a mental image of : imagine
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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