WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
view /vyu/USA pronunciation
n.
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- an instance of seeing;
visual inspection;
sight or vision:[countable]The tourists crowded around to get a good view of the painting. - range of sight or vision:[uncountable]objects in view.
- a sight of a landscape, the sea, etc.:[countable]a room with a beautiful view.
- a picture or photograph of a scene:[countable]The postcard shows a view of the harbor.
- a particular manner of looking at something:[countable]from a practical (point of) view.
- a personal attitude;
opinion;
judgment: [countable]the scientist's view of evolution.[uncountable]a strange (point of) view. - aim, intention, or purpose:[countable]with a view toward reducing the budget.
- prospect or expectation:[countable* usually singular]the view for the future.
v. [~ + object]
- to see;
watch;
behold:Thousands viewed the parade. - to look at;
survey;
inspect:to view an art collection. - to think about;
consider:How do you view the current crisis?
- Idioms in view of, because of;
in thinking about;
considering:In view of the poor state of the economy, investment seems risky. - Idioms on view, in a place for public inspection;
on exhibition:a new exhibit of paintings on view. - Idioms with a view to, with the aim or intention of:worked hard with a view to getting promoted.
view (vyo̅o̅),USA pronunciation
n.
v.t.
- an instance of seeing or beholding;
visual inspection. - sight;
vision. - range of sight or vision:Several running deer came into the view of the hunters.
- a sight or prospect of a landscape, the sea, etc.:His apartment affords a view of the park.
- a picture or photograph of something:The postcard bears a view of Vesuvius.
- a particular manner of looking at something:From a practical view, the situation presents several problems.
- contemplation or consideration of a matter with reference to action:a project in view.
- aim, intention, or purpose.
- prospect;
expectation:the view for the future. - a sight afforded of something from a position stated or qualified:a bird's-eye view.
- a general account or description of a subject.
- a conception of a thing;
opinion;
theory:His view was not supported by the facts. - a survey;
inspection:a view of Restoration comedy. - in view:
- within range of vision.
- under consideration.
- as an end sought:She went over the material with the scholarship examination in view.
- in view of, in consideration of;
on account of:In view of the circumstances, it seems best to wait until tomorrow. - on view, in a place for public inspection;
on exhibition:The latest models of automobiles are now on view. - with a view to:
- with the aim or intention of.
- with the expectation or hope of:They saved their money with a view to being able to buy a house someday.
v.t.
- to see;
watch:to view a movie. - to look at;
survey;
inspect:to view the construction of a road. - to contemplate mentally;
consider:to view the repercussions of a decision. - to regard in a particular light or as specified:She views every minor setback as a disaster.
- Sport[Fox Hunting.]to sight (a fox).
- Vulgar Latin *vidūta, noun, nominal use of feminine of *vidūtus, for Latin vīsus, past participle of vidēre to see
- Anglo-French; Middle French veue sight
- late Middle English v(i)ewe (noun, nominal) 1375–1425
- 4. View, prospect, scene, vista refer to a landscape or perspective. View is a general word, referring to whatever lies open to sight:a fine view of the surrounding country.Prospect suggests a sweeping and often distant view, as from a place of vantage:a beautiful prospect to the south.Scene suggests an organic unity in the details such as is to be found in a picture:a woodland scene.Vista suggests a long, narrow view, as along an avenue between rows of trees:a pleasant vista. 8. object, design, end, intent. 12. belief, judgment, estimation, assessment, impression, valuation. See opinion. 18. witness, contemplate, regard.
'in view' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
backstage
- considering
- inasmuch as
- light
- open
- purposeful
- view
- adjustment
- because
- consideration
- contemplate
- farm
- forasmuchas
- herein
- offstage
- onstage
- pan
- plan
- privileged
- prospect
- res gestae
- transformation
- whole
- seeing