picture

An image made on paper or another surface that shows a person, place, or thing.

• I drew a picture.
• There are pictures on every wall.
• Who painted this picture of the sea?

How to use it: a picture of someone/something (She drew a picture of her dog.)

Similar words: image, drawing, painting

Common phrases: draw a picture, picture of something, paint a picture, framed picture

An image made with a camera.

• Can you take my picture?
• We looked at pictures from our holiday.
• This is my favourite picture of you.

How to use it: a picture of someone/something (I took a picture of the sunset.)

Similar words: photo, photograph

Common phrases: take a picture, family picture, picture of someone

A way of understanding a situation, including its main facts and how they fit together.

• We need the full picture.
• These figures give a clearer picture of the economy.
• Try to consider the bigger picture before you decide.

How to use it: a picture of something (The report gives a clear picture of local housing needs.)

Similar words: overview, understanding

Common phrases: overall picture, clear picture, bigger picture, picture of something

The image you see on a television, computer, or other screen.

• The picture is blurry.
• This television has a very sharp picture.
• We lost the picture, but we could still hear the sound.

Similar words: image

Common phrases: clear picture, picture quality, television picture

An image or idea of something that you form in your mind.

• I have a picture of her in my mind.
• His story gave us a vivid picture of village life.
• My mental picture of the place was completely wrong.

How to use it: a picture of someone/something (I have a clear picture of the house in my mind.)

Similar words: image, vision

Common phrases: mental picture, picture in mind, picture of something

To imagine what someone or something looks like, or what a situation would be like.

• Picture a quiet beach.
• I pictured him waiting outside the station.
• Can you picture yourself living here?

How to use it: picture someone/something doing something (I can picture you living by the sea.); picture someone/something as something (She pictured herself as a successful writer.)

Similar words: imagine, visualize

Common phrases: picture someone doing something, picture yourself, picture the scene

To show someone or something in a photograph, drawing, or other image.

• The cover pictures a mountain.
• She was pictured beside her new car.
• The people pictured above are our volunteers.

How to use it: be pictured with someone/something (The singer is pictured with her children.); be pictured doing something (He was pictured leaving the hotel.)

Similar words: show, depict

Common phrases: picture someone together, picture something above, picture someone smiling

To describe someone or something in a way that gives readers or listeners a strong impression.

• The novel pictures life in a small town.
• The report pictured the city as a dangerous place.
• Her account pictures the workers struggling to feed their families.

How to use it: picture someone/something as something (The story pictures him as a lonely man.)

Similar words: portray, depict, describe

Common phrases: picture someone as something, picture someone doing something