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
Schafer noted that the company’s 2026 revenue is locked in with a “clear line of sight to deployments this year.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
“Overall, we have seen improving order book trends in the second quarter, which gives greater line of sight to deliver on our full-year outlook,” Chief Executive Mike Radossich said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
For commercial drones to become an everyday reality, operators need to be able to fly them beyond the visual line of sight, or BVLOS.
From BBC ● May 6, 2026
He looks up from some paperwork when I cross into his line of sight.
From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz
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.
