# perspective

/pɝˈspɛktɪv/ (US) · /pəspˈɛktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/perspective
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. point of view

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

a particular way of thinking about something, often influenced by your own experiences.

For teachers: a specific cognitive orientation or mental outlook used to evaluate or interpret a situation.

- Traveling to different countries gave her a new perspective on her own culture.
- The historian argued that we must examine the conflict from the perspective of the local population rather than relying solely on official government reports.

### 2. art technique

noun · CEFR B2

the method of drawing or painting that makes objects look three-dimensional and far away.

For teachers: the technique of representing three-dimensional spatial relationships on a two-dimensional plane.

- The artist used perspective to make the long road look like it disappeared into the distance.
- Renaissance painters mastered linear perspective, allowing them to create a convincing illusion of depth that had been absent in medieval art.

### 3. sense of proportion

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to judge which things are truly important and which are not.

For teachers: the capacity to view things in their true relationship or relative importance.

- He was so upset about the broken plate that he lost all perspective on the situation.
- After the crisis had passed, the manager was able to regain her perspective and realise that the minor delays would not affect the project's ultimate success.

### 4. a physical view

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a view or scene stretching into the distance.

For teachers: a visible scene or vista, especially one that provides a sense of distance.

- From the top of the hill, a beautiful perspective of the valley opened up before us.
- The long avenue of oak trees created a grand perspective that led the eye directly toward the palace gates.

### 5. relating to perspective

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the way things are seen or drawn to show depth.

For teachers: pertaining to the art or science of representing depth and spatial relationships.

- The architect showed us a perspective drawing of the new office building.
- The student struggled with the perspective geometry required to accurately render the complex architectural arches.

## Examples

- Traveling helps you get a new perspective on life.
- The committee needs to hear the perspective of the local residents before they vote on the new park.
- From a historical perspective, the current economic shift is less an anomaly and more a predictable consequence of long-term industrial cycles.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.