horizon
huh-RYE-zun
/həˈraɪzn/
The limit of a person's mental perception, experience, or interest; the future as it can be seen.
Metaphorically refers to the limit of what we can currently see or predict about the future.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Greek 'horizein', meaning 'to bound' or 'to limit.' It originally referred to the 'bounding circle' that separates the earth from the sky.
Word relationships
- prospect: Horizon is the limit of what is visible; prospect is the specific thing you see.
- nadir: Nadir is the lowest point; horizon is the furthest visible point.
Commonly confused with
- skyline: Skyline is the physical outline of buildings; horizon is the meeting of earth and sky.
Word family
- horizontal (adjective): parallel to the plane of the horizon
Collocations
- on the horizon
- broaden one's horizons
- event horizon
Idioms & expressions
- beyond the horizon
Example sentences
- "The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change." Inspiration
- "New technologies are appearing on the horizon that will change how we work." Business
Memory hook
The horizon is where the sun 'rises' and 'sets' its limits. The horizon is the limit of your vision.
When not to use
Don't use metaphorically if you are talking about something very immediate; use 'imminent' instead.
Fun facts
- An 'event horizon' in physics is the point of no return around a black hole.
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