Illusion
noun
Something that appears real or true but is not actually so.
The oasis in the desert turned out to be an illusion
Often appears as...
- mirage
- hallucination
noun
A false idea or belief.
She's under no illusions about the difficulties of the job
Often appears as...
- labour under the illusion
- under the illusion of
noun
A type of performance by a magician that seems to defy natural laws.
He's a master of illusion
Often appears as...
- master of illusion
- illusion of
noun
An image created by tricking the mind or the senses.
The artist used perspective to create an illusion of depth
Often appears as...
- create an illusion
- optical illusion
Usage tips
Artistic
noun
Something that appears real or true but is not actually so.
The oasis in the desert turned out to be an illusion
Often appears as...
- mirage
- hallucination
noun
A false idea or belief.
She's under no illusions about the difficulties of the job
Often appears as...
- labour under the illusion
- under the illusion of
noun
A type of performance by a magician that seems to defy natural laws.
He's a master of illusion
Often appears as...
- master of illusion
- illusion of
noun
An image created by tricking the mind or the senses.
The artist used perspective to create an illusion of depth
Often appears as...
- create an illusion
- optical illusion
Usage tips
Artistic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Not Real
Remember 'illusion' suggests something seems real but isn't, often due to circumstances.
The shadows on the wall created the illusion of movement.
Pro Tip 2/2Visual Deception
An 'illusion' can be a visual trick that confuses the eyes and brain.
The lines seem curved, but it's just an optical illusion.
Pro Tip 1/2Not Real
Remember 'illusion' suggests something seems real but isn't, often due to circumstances.
The shadows on the wall created the illusion of movement.
Pro Tip 2/2Visual Deception
An 'illusion' can be a visual trick that confuses the eyes and brain.
The lines seem curved, but it's just an optical illusion.
Pro Tip 1/2Not Real
Remember 'illusion' suggests something seems real but isn't, often due to circumstances.
The shadows on the wall created the illusion of movement.
Pro Tip 2/2Visual Deception
An 'illusion' can be a visual trick that confuses the eyes and brain.
The lines seem curved, but it's just an optical illusion.
Compare with
apparitionchimeradeceitdelusionfantasyhallucinatemiragemisconceptionphantasmtrick
Never forget "Illusion"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Four reasons you should...
brain events news events are just things happening flickering on the world surface but to make better decisions you want to understand what drives these events or generates these events and new stories don't tell you that news give you the illusion of understanding and that illusion is dangerous I came to
Video examples
Altered States PIPE Brain...
the letters that spelled out this ancient wisdom from Plutarch an ancient Greek philosopher your eyes in your brain work together to create emotion after effect illusion staring at the constantly moving pattern tires out the visual neurons detecting motion over time when you stop looking at the image
Video examples
Julian Baggini: Is there...
a lot of these people do talk the language of illusion, the self is an illusion, it's a fiction. But I don't think this is a very helpful way of looking at it. Go back to the watch. The watch isn't an illusion, because there is nothing to the watch other than a collection of its parts.
Video examples
Why do we see illusions?...
All of our perceptions are always trying to be about the present, but you have to perceive the future to, in fact, perceive the present. And these illusions are failed perceptions of the future, because they're just static images on the page, they're not changing like in real life.
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
The only meaningful answer to the question of how many universes there are is one. Only one universe. And a few philosophers and mystics might argue that even our own universe is an illusion. So, as you can see, right now there is no agreement on this question, not even close.
Video examples
Why are we so attached...
in a region that usually flickers into life whenever we think about ourselves. Another reason we're so fond of our possessions is that from a young age we believe they have a unique essence. Psychologists showed us this by using an illusion
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
a momentary illusion that you are living in the world of the story. Fiction engages the senses, helps us create vivid mental simulacra of the experiences the characters are having. Stage and screen engage some of our senses directly.
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
even if it costs you your friends and family, or stick with comfortable and familiar illusions? Truth or habit? Light or shadow? Hard choices, but if it's any consolation, you're not alone. There are lots of us down here.
Video examples
How many universes are...
only one universe. And a few philosophers and mystics might argue that even our own universe is an illusion. So, as you can see, right now there is no agreement on this question, not even close.
Video examples
Octopus Playtime PIPE...
that's not an illusion they are looking back and so when you have an animal that's that attentive to another animal's eyes that is very suggestive of high level of awareness of the world
Video examples
Four reasons you should...
brain events news events are just things happening flickering on the world surface but to make better decisions you want to understand what drives these events or generates these events and new stories don't tell you that news give you the illusion of understanding and that illusion is dangerous I came to
Video examples
Altered States PIPE Brain...
the letters that spelled out this ancient wisdom from Plutarch an ancient Greek philosopher your eyes in your brain work together to create emotion after effect illusion staring at the constantly moving pattern tires out the visual neurons detecting motion over time when you stop looking at the image
Video examples
Julian Baggini: Is there...
a lot of these people do talk the language of illusion, the self is an illusion, it's a fiction. But I don't think this is a very helpful way of looking at it. Go back to the watch. The watch isn't an illusion, because there is nothing to the watch other than a collection of its parts.
Video examples
Why do we see illusions?...
All of our perceptions are always trying to be about the present, but you have to perceive the future to, in fact, perceive the present. And these illusions are failed perceptions of the future, because they're just static images on the page, they're not changing like in real life.
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
The only meaningful answer to the question of how many universes there are is one. Only one universe. And a few philosophers and mystics might argue that even our own universe is an illusion. So, as you can see, right now there is no agreement on this question, not even close.
Video examples
Why are we so attached...
in a region that usually flickers into life whenever we think about ourselves. Another reason we're so fond of our possessions is that from a young age we believe they have a unique essence. Psychologists showed us this by using an illusion
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
a momentary illusion that you are living in the world of the story. Fiction engages the senses, helps us create vivid mental simulacra of the experiences the characters are having. Stage and screen engage some of our senses directly.
Video examples
Plato’s Allegory of the...
even if it costs you your friends and family, or stick with comfortable and familiar illusions? Truth or habit? Light or shadow? Hard choices, but if it's any consolation, you're not alone. There are lots of us down here.
Video examples
How many universes are...
only one universe. And a few philosophers and mystics might argue that even our own universe is an illusion. So, as you can see, right now there is no agreement on this question, not even close.
Video examples
Octopus Playtime PIPE...
that's not an illusion they are looking back and so when you have an animal that's that attentive to another animal's eyes that is very suggestive of high level of awareness of the world
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mel Gibson
Actor
And, hey, I'm not under the illusion that everything's just going to be hunky-dory work wise forever. I've never been under that illusion. Things could go away tomorrow.
Quote examples
Jack Nicholson
American Actor
Because you know, down deep in my heart, when all is said and done, I still live under the illusion that basically people think of me as an up-and-coming young actor.
Quote examples
Orson Welles
American Actor
We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.
Quote examples
H. P. Lovecraft
American Novelist
Fear is our deepest and strongest emotion, and the one which best lends itself to the creation of nature-defying illusions.
Quote examples
Henri Nouwen
Dutch Clergyman
Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.
Quote examples
Victor Hugo
French Author
The soul has illusions as the bird has wings: it is supported by them.
Quote examples
Jean-Paul Sartre
French Philosopher
Life has no meaning the moment you lose the illusion of being eternal.
Quote examples
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet
Therefore trust to thy heart, and to what the world calls illusions.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion.
Quote examples
Fabio Lanzoni
Italian Actor
As men, we have the illusion that we run the world.
Quote examples
Mel Gibson
Actor
And, hey, I'm not under the illusion that everything's just going to be hunky-dory work wise forever. I've never been under that illusion. Things could go away tomorrow.
Quote examples
Jack Nicholson
American Actor
Because you know, down deep in my heart, when all is said and done, I still live under the illusion that basically people think of me as an up-and-coming young actor.
Quote examples
Orson Welles
American Actor
We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.
Quote examples
H. P. Lovecraft
American Novelist
Fear is our deepest and strongest emotion, and the one which best lends itself to the creation of nature-defying illusions.
Quote examples
Henri Nouwen
Dutch Clergyman
Much violence is based on the illusion that life is a property to be defended and not to be shared.
Quote examples
Victor Hugo
French Author
The soul has illusions as the bird has wings: it is supported by them.
Quote examples
Jean-Paul Sartre
French Philosopher
Life has no meaning the moment you lose the illusion of being eternal.
Quote examples
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American Poet
Therefore trust to thy heart, and to what the world calls illusions.
Quote examples
Noam Chomsky
American Activist
If we choose, we can live in a world of comforting illusion.
Quote examples
Fabio Lanzoni
Italian Actor
As men, we have the illusion that we run the world.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension