horizon

American  

[huh-rahy-zuhn] / həˈraɪ zən /

noun

• horizons
  plural

1. 

   the line or circle that forms the apparent boundary between earth and sky.

2. Astronomy.

   1. the small circle of the celestial sphere whose plane is tangent to the earth at the position of a given observer, or the plane of such a circle sensible horizon.

   2. Also called rational horizon. the great circle of the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the center of the earth and is parallel to the sensible horizon of a given position, or the plane of such a circle celestial horizon.

3. the limit or range of perception, knowledge, or the like.

4. Usually horizons the scope of a person's interest, education, understanding, etc..

   His horizons were narrow.

   Synonyms:

   viewpoint, domain, perspective, world

5. Geology. a thin, distinctive stratum useful for stratigraphic correlation.

6. Also called soil horizon. any of the series of distinctive layers found in a vertical cross section of any well-developed soil.

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horizon British  

/ həˈraɪzən /

noun

1. Also called: visible horizon, apparent horizon. the apparent line that divides the earth and the sky

2. astronomy

   1. Also called: sensible horizon. the circular intersection with the celestial sphere of the plane tangential to the earth at the position of the observer

   2. Also called: celestial horizon. the great circle on the celestial sphere, the plane of which passes through the centre of the earth and is parallel to the sensible horizon

3. the range or limit of scope, interest, knowledge, etc

4. a thin layer of rock within a stratum that has a distinct composition, esp of fossils, by which the stratum may be dated

5. a layer in a soil profile having particular characteristics See A horizon B horizon C horizon

6. likely or about to happen or appear

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horizon Scientific  

/ hə-rī′zən /

1. 1. The apparent intersection of the Earth and sky as seen by an observer.

   2. See celestial horizon

   3. See sensible horizon

2. Geology

   1. A specific position in a stratigraphic column, such as the location of one or more fossils, that serves to identify the stratum with a particular period.

   2. A specific layer of soil or subsoil in a vertical cross-section of land.

3. Archaeology A period during which the influence of a particular culture spread rapidly over a defined area.

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horizon Idioms  

1. see on the horizon.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• horizonless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• horizons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of horizon

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin horizōn, from Greek horízōn (kýklos) “bounding (circle),” equivalent to horíz(ein) “to bound, limit” + -ōn present participle suffix (nominative singular); replacing Middle English orizonte, from Middle French, from Latin horizontem, accusative of horizōn

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Explanation

When you look out your window and note the furthest point you can see––the line where the sky meets the earth––that edge is called the horizon. Horizon can also mean the edge of something in a figurative sense. When you are thinking about your life, it can be difficult to get very far beyond where you are. Teenagers have a hard time imagining beyond the horizons of young adulthood. People expecting a baby often put much of their focus on infancy––having a child who can sit up or even walk is beyond the horizons of their thinking.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

horizon horizons

As always it will be dim and close to the horizon.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026

Le Gray solved the problem by combining two negatives, one of land or sea, the other of the sky, joining them at the horizon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2026

There are two potential catalysts for Oracle on the horizon, Moerdler wrote in a late Tuesday note.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 11, 2026

This optical effect makes the Moon appear larger when it is close to the horizon than when it is high overhead, even though its actual apparent size changes very little.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

Never have I seen so many elegant houses, castles, and churches arranged like a painting on the horizon.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

There’s no assurance that the average Dividend Aristocrat will beat the S&P 500 over shorter horizons.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026

For decades, private-capital firms raised money from state pension funds, endowments and other institutional investors with deep pools of money and long-term horizons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

"Spending the year away from the K-pop system in the US really opened her horizons," the director says.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

"It will help the players themselves with opening up their horizons into different cultures, different countries, experiencing other footballing nations and other styles of football," he says.

From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026

They gathered mountains and valleys, rivers and whole horizons, the way a man might now gain title to building lots.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

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Related Words

• boundary
• perspective
• prospect
• scope

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