line of sight
Americannoun
-
Also called line of sighting. an imaginary straight line running through the aligned sights of a firearm, surveying equipment, etc.
-
Astronomy. an imaginary line from an observer to a celestial body, coincident with the path traveled by light rays receivedfrom the body.
-
Radio. a straight line connecting two points sufficiently high and near one another so that the line is entirely above the surface of the earth.
-
Ophthalmology. line of vision.
noun
-
the straight line along which an observer looks or a beam of radiation travels
-
ophthalmol another term for line of vision
Etymology
Origin of line of sight
First recorded in 1550–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
High-power microwave systems are generally less vulnerable to rain, fog or smoke than lasers, but still depend on line of sight, range, beam control and the surrounding electromagnetic environment.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
“Even as we expect industry supply to improve gradually in 2028, we currently do not have line of sight as to when memory supply will be able to catch up with increasing demand.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
The sector is in a much better position and there is more line of sight to quantum really becoming a reality, a senior Commerce Department official said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
Always in each other’s line of sight, always negotiating space that didn’t exist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
There were too many people on the sidewalk blocking his line of sight.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
