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.
In contrast, the bees' uncertainty increases in visually monotonous environments.
From Science Daily • Jun. 14, 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
"It can also be kind of aesthetically or visually pleasing to the eye, it's just so colourful and I think that's what really grabs people in," he says.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
“Elements such as the staircase cherubs, vibrant patterned wallpaper, curved French patio doors, and the deeply personal, expressive touches throughout make the home both memorable and visually striking.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
It’s a moment I replay over and over again in my mind, although the memory registers more viscerally than visually.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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.
