vanishing point
Americannoun
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a point of disappearance, cessation, or extinction.
His patience had reached the vanishing point.
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(in the study of perspective in art) that point toward which receding parallel lines appear to converge.
noun
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the point to which parallel lines appear to converge in the rendering of perspective, usually on the horizon
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a point in space or time at or beyond which something disappears or ceases to exist
Etymology
Origin of vanishing point
First recorded in 1790–1800
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.
“I understand they have a job to do,” she said, gazing toward the tent city, which, from here, seemed to meld toward a vanishing point.
From Slate ● Feb. 23, 2026
“The vanishing point corresponding to parallel lines on the screen, price, and ‘Don’t blame…’ text are inconsistent,” Farid wrote.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2022
“Part ode and part elegy to Octavia Butler’s unfinished ‘Parable’ trilogy, this exhibition investigates the vanishing point of an idea,” writes LACE.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2021
The actor Alec Baldwin, a friend, said, “Beard was someone who went to Africa at a vanishing point in time and tapped into that spirit.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 14, 2020
In early perspective paintings the vanishing point is often hidden by a seemingly casually placed foot or a bit of drapery.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
