picturesque
Americanadjective
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visually charming or quaint, as if resembling or suitable for a painting.
a picturesque fishing village.
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(of writing, speech, etc.) strikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images.
a picturesque description of the Brazilian jungle.
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having pleasing or interesting qualities; strikingly effective in appearance.
a picturesque hat.
adjective
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visually pleasing, esp in being striking or vivid
a picturesque view
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having a striking or colourful character, nature, etc
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(of language) graphic; vivid
Related Words
Picturesque, graphic, vivid apply to descriptions that produce a strong, especially a visual, impression. Picturesque is a less precise term than the other two. A picturesque account, though striking and interesting, may be inaccurate or may reflect personal ideas: He called the landscape picturesque. A graphic account is more objective and factual: it produces a clear, definite impression, and carries conviction. A vivid account is told with liveliness and intenseness; the description is so interesting, or even exciting, that the reader or hearer may be emotionally stirred.
Other Word Forms
- picturesquely adverb
- picturesqueness noun
- unpicturesque adjective
- unpicturesquely adverb
- unpicturesqueness noun
Etymology
Origin of picturesque
First recorded in 1695–1705; from French pittoresque, from Italian pittoresco ( pittor(e) painter 1 + -esco -esque ), with assimilation to picture
Explanation
You could describe a particularly pretty scene as picturesque. But save it up for a view that's so gorgeous you'd love to have it framed on the wall as a painting. Picturesque is an adjective used to describe something with strikingly pleasing or vivid qualities — a scene so picture-perfect that you feel an impulse to reach for your camera or double check to make sure it's real. A view of the pristine shoreline on a summer’s day, a grandfather and grandson reading a book together, or a charming old farm cottage could all be called picturesque.
Vocabulary lists containing picturesque
Words to Describe a Place
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"Called Out" by Barbara Kingsolver
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"Tested by a Picturesque Dystopia"
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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.
Hopes are high that an old garage site at one end of the town could have a part to play in solving that problem in this picturesque part of Galloway.
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
HÓDMEZŐVÁSÁRHELY, Hungary—Just off the main square of this picturesque provincial city, a crowd braced against a cold spring wind as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took the stage for a re-election rally.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
Hollywood actor Tate Donovan is parting ways with the beautiful Texas property he has owned for the last decade, listing the picturesque dwelling for just a hair under $1.7 million, Realtor.com can reveal.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
The picturesque medieval city of 160,000 near England's south-eastern tip is a popular spot for day-trippers and a bustling student hub.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026
The snow is melting, and white rapids splash against picturesque rocks, and spring gives the late afternoon a sweet yellow light.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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.
