horizon
noun
ho·ri·zon
hə-ˈrī-zᵊn 
1
a
: the line where the earth seems to meet the sky : the apparent junction of earth and sky
sailing toward the horizon
b
: the great circle on the celestial sphere formed by the intersection of the celestial sphere with a plane tangent to the earth's surface at an observer's position see azimuth illustration
c
: range of perception or experience
broaden your horizons
d
: something that might be attained
opening up new horizons in the field of cancer research
2
a
geology
: a natural soil layer deposited at a particular time usually identified by distinctive fossils
b
geology
: any of the reasonably distinct layers of soil or its underlying material in a vertical section of land
c
anthropology
: a cultural area or level of development indicated by separated groups of artifacts
Examples of horizon in a Sentence
We sailed toward the horizon.
The sun rose slowly over the eastern horizon.
These discoveries have opened up new horizons in the field of cancer research.
Recent Examples on the Web
Then, once the lander's batteries are drained and the sun has set behind the lunar horizon, Athena's mission will end.
—
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Saturday, March 8: Mercury At Its Highest And Moon Meets Mars
Today, Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, shining at magnitude -0.3 just above the western horizon after sunset.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Through the first half of March, Venus and Mercury will be fairly close to each other as twilight tapers but will also start out the evenings closer and closer to the western horizon.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2025
This creates something called lunar horizon glow, a phenomenon most notably observed by NASA astronaut Eugene Cernan during Apollo 17, the final mission of the Apollo program.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horizon
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Josh Dinner, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Saturday, March 8: Mercury At Its Highest And Moon Meets Mars
Today, Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, shining at magnitude -0.3 just above the western horizon after sunset.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
Through the first half of March, Venus and Mercury will be fairly close to each other as twilight tapers but will also start out the evenings closer and closer to the western horizon.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 2025
This creates something called lunar horizon glow, a phenomenon most notably observed by NASA astronaut Eugene Cernan during Apollo 17, the final mission of the Apollo program.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for horizon
Cite this Entry
“Horizon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horizon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
horizon
noun
ho·ri·zon
ˈhə-ˈrīz-ᵊn
1
: the line where the earth or sea seems to meet the sky
2
: the limit or range of a person's outlook or experience
reading broadens our horizons
3
: a distinct layer of soil or its underlying material in a vertical section of land
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