vanishing point

noun

1
: a point at which receding parallel lines seem to meet when represented in linear perspective
2
: a point at which something disappears or ceases to exist

Illustration of vanishing point

Illustration of vanishing point
  • V vanishing point 1

Examples of vanishing point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This perception, in which lines in two-dimensional space appear to meet at a point called the vanishing point, is often used in art to portray relative distances. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2024 But that neat dichotomy between government and business has blurred to the vanishing point. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 Political and economic developments in the Middle East have reduced the opportunities for effective American intervention to a vanishing point, and policymakers in Washington have been recognizing that and acting accordingly. Steven Simon, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2015 Trump would be racing to cash in before the value of his holdings reached the vanishing point. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vanishing point 

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vanishing point was in 1797

Dictionary Entries Near vanishing point

Cite this Entry

“Vanishing point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vanishing%20point. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vanishing point

noun
: a point at which parallel lines seem to meet (as in a drawing)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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