Word

horizon

noun C1

/həˈɹaɪ.zən/

Meanings

noun

the line in the distance where the land or sea seems to meet the sky

noun

the limit of what someone can see, understand, or imagine; the range of possibilities

Definition

The horizon is the line where the earth or sea seems to meet the sky.

The horizon is the distant boundary you can see when you look out over land or water, where the surface appears to touch the sky. It is not a fixed line you can reach, because it depends on your viewpoint. The word is also commonly used in a more abstract way to mean the limit of what someone can see, know, or imagine.

Examples

I watched the storm clouds gather on the horizon and decided to head back before the wind picked up.
She kept her eyes on the horizon as the ferry left the harbor, trying to spot the first hint of open sea.
They saw a thin band of orange on the horizon, and the campsite slowly brightened as dawn arrived.
His research trip broadened his horizon by forcing him to question assumptions he had never noticed before.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse horizon with skyline; the horizon is the apparent meeting line of earth/sea and sky, while the skyline is the outline of buildings or mountains against the sky.