mind's eye

American

noun

the hypothetical site of visual recollection or imagination.

In her mind's eye she saw the city as it had been in Caesar's time.

mind's eye British

noun

the visual memory or the imagination

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mind's eye

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

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.

But conjure one in your mind’s eye and I suspect we’re seeing the same thing: slumped berries bleeding into pale yogurt.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

"Before their death, the heroic martyrs must have pictured in their mind's eye their dear families living in the ever-prospering country," he added.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

In the mind's eye you could imagine him stretched out on a couch with the sound of gently lapping water playing in his ears.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Let your mind’s eye wander around the scene.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025

In his mind’s eye he saw himself as a grim-faced daredevil.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023