three-dimensional

adjective

Synonyms of three-dimensionalnext
1
: of, relating to, or having three dimensions
2
: giving the illusion of depth or varying distances
used especially of an image or a pictorial representation on a two-dimensional medium when this illusion is enhanced by stereoscopic means
3
: describing or being described in well-rounded completeness
… a three-dimensional analysis of multiple historical processes …L. L. Snyder
4
: true to life : lifelike

Examples of three-dimensional in a Sentence

an actress who has been acclaimed for her three-dimensional portrayal of the celebrated monarch
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.
During an operation, a surgeon controls robotic arms fitted with small instruments while viewing the surgical area through a three-dimensional vision system. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026 David Nussbaum, founder of Proto Hologram in Los Angeles, is helping Sadhguru create a three-dimensional AI avatar that appears in a display box and can interact with devotees in several languages. ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 The AlphaFold team—defined as the group that produced AlphaFold2, the AI system that predicts the three-dimensional structure of proteins from their genetic sequence—has also suffered heavy losses. Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Our three-color traffic light has a three-dimensional Hilbert space. Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for three-dimensional

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of three-dimensional was in 1870

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Cite this Entry

“Three-dimensional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/three-dimensional. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

three-dimensional

adjective
1
: of, relating to, or having three dimensions (as length, width, and height)
2
: giving the appearance of depth or varying distances
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