skyline

skyline — noun

1. the shape that a city or group of tall buildings makes when you look at it from

1.nounB1
Definition

the shape that a city or group of tall buildings makes when you look at it from a distance against the sky

Example

From the hotel window, Madison could see the impressive skyline of Singapore.

collocation: the skyline of [city]

The Tokyo skyline is famous for its mix of old temples and modern skyscrapers.

collocation: [city] skyline

Common collocations
  • impressive skyline
  • famous skyline
  • city skyline
  • the skyline of [city]
  • skyline photo
  • skyline view
Synonyms
  • silhouette

    can refer to any dark shape against a lighter background, not limited to city views

  • outline

    more general — refers to the edge or contour of any object

  • panorama

    emphasises a wide, sweeping view rather than just the outline against the sky

Grammar Patterns

the skyline of [city]

[city] skyline

Usage Note

Usually modified by the name of a city before or after it (e.g., Chicago skyline, the skyline of London). Common adjectives include 'impressive', 'famous', 'iconic', and 'dramatic'.

Common Mistakes

The skyline of that building was beautiful.
The skyline of that city was beautiful.
Skyline describes a group of buildings or a city's outline, not a single building.

2. the place far away where the sky appears to meet the land or the sea

2.nounB2
Definition

the place far away where the sky appears to meet the land or the sea

Example

The ship disappeared below the skyline as the sun went down.

preposition: below the skyline

From the beach, Camila watched the sun rise above the skyline.

preposition: above the skyline

Common collocations
  • on the skyline
  • above the skyline
  • below the skyline
  • appear on the skyline
  • disappear below the skyline
Synonyms
  • horizon

    the standard everyday word for the line where sky meets land or sea

Grammar Patterns

on the skyline

above/below the skyline

Usage Note

This sense is less common than 'horizon' for the same meaning. It appears more often in literary or descriptive writing than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The sun set below the skyline at the beach.
The sun set below the horizon at the beach.
For the point where the sun disappears at sea, 'horizon' is the usual word; 'skyline' in this sense sounds literary.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Skyline is specific to the shape of a city's buildings or a landscape's features against the sky — it always implies a background of sky. Silhouette is broader: any dark shape viewed against a lighter background (a person, a tree, a bird). Outline is the most general — it simply describes the edge or contour of any object without any background requirement. Panorama focuses on a wide, unbroken view of a scene rather than its outline against the sky. Profile is similar to silhouette but usually refers to the side view of a single object (a face, a mountain). For describing a city's iconic skyline, use 'skyline'; for saying you could only see the dark shape of something, use 'silhouette'; for a broad scenic view, use 'panorama'.

skyline ↗silhouette ↗outline ↗panoramaprofile ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • city skyline
  • skyline view
  • skyline photo

Phrases

  • dominate the skyline
  • rise above the skyline

Prepositions

  • against the skyline
  • on the skyline

Etymology

Old NorseLatinOld EnglishEnglish

Skyline is a compound of 'sky' (from Old Norse 'ský', meaning cloud) and 'line' (from Latin 'linea', a thread or mark, via Old English 'līne'). It first appeared in English in the 18th century, originally referring to the horizon (sense 2). By the late 19th century, as cities grew taller, it took on the modern meaning of a city's outline against the sky. The word reflects how technology — skyscrapers — gave an old concept a new, iconic use.