vanishing point

American  

noun

1. a point of disappearance, cessation, or extinction.

   His patience had reached the vanishing point.

2. (in the study of perspective in art) that point toward which receding parallel lines appear to converge.

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vanishing point British  

noun

1. the point to which parallel lines appear to converge in the rendering of perspective, usually on the horizon

2. a point in space or time at or beyond which something disappears or ceases to exist

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Etymology

Origin of vanishing point

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vanishing point

“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 fixed vanishing point, where all lines of vision converge, corresponds to a viewer standing before the picture, motionless in time and space.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2023

“Pass-Thru” culminates in his darkest sequence, with Thgil — another of the messianic aliens in which Breen specializes — walking toward the horizon’s vanishing point.

From New York Times ● Aug. 7, 2023

“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

It helps, then, if you want to work with a vanishing point, to have a concept of nothing.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton