Words / C1

in-VIZ-ij/ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ/

To envisage is to picture a future situation as possible — you might envisage studying abroad. Imagine is everyday and can be fantasy; foresee is closer to prediction; envision is a common US variant. Envisage is standard British, and the patterns are envisage + noun / + -ing / that. In speech, see yourself or imagine is more natural — it is not a synonym for hope.

Meaning

To imagine a future situation as possible or likely.

Examples

• “Do you envisage studying abroad next year?”
• “The architects envisaged a library that stayed open in the evening.”
• “I do not envisage finishing the corpus work before Easter.”

Good to know

envisage + noun/-ing/that. British: picture as possible. Everyday: imagine / see (it happening). US cousin: envision.

Near in meaning

imagine

New