visually
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of visually
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at visual, -ly
Explanation
The adverb visually means "related to the sense of sight." For a kids' book to be visually interesting, it has to have illustrations to look at, and not just words. If a person is visually impaired, their ability to see is limited. And if an art exhibit is visually overwhelming, there's just too much for your eyes to take in at once. A critic who describes a movie as "visually stunning" simply means it's very nice to look at. Visually comes from the adjective visual and its Latin root, videre, "to see."
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.
Evans said the post-industrial town was visually stunning.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
"This kind of activity enriches them a great deal, not only visually for the audience but for them as well," he said.
From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026
Braun noted that while the structures are visually impressive, they are considered normal features within storms of this type.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026
It’s a visually stunning, wildly propulsive and tragic thriller that’s worth a watch.
From MarketWatch • May 31, 2026
So there I sat on that yellow school bus—Erik Fishers younger brother, Eclipse Boy, visually impaired and totally incapable of following in his brother’s footsteps.
From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor
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.
