simulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
simulates,
present (3rd person singular)
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simulated,
past participle, past
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simulating
present participle
-
to create a simulation, likeness, or model of (a situation, system, or the like).
to simulate crisis conditions.
-
to make a pretense of; feign.
to simulate knowledge.
- Synonyms:
- counterfeit, pretend
-
to assume or have the appearance or characteristics of.
He simulated the manners of the rich.
- Synonyms:
- affect
adjective
verb
-
to make a pretence of; feign
to simulate anxiety
-
to reproduce the conditions of (a situation, etc), as in carrying out an experiment
to simulate weightlessness
-
to assume or have the appearance of; imitate
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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nonsimulateadjective
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nonsimulativeadjective
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simulativeadjective
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simulatoryadjective
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unsimulatedadjective
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unsimulatingadjective
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unsimulativeadjective
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well-simulatedadjective
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simulativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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simulatesimple
-
simulatessimple
-
have simulatedperfect
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has simulatedperfect
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am simulatingprogressive
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are simulatingprogressive
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is simulatingprogressive
-
have been simulatingperfect progressive
-
has been simulatingperfect progressive
Past
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simulatedsimple
-
had simulatedperfect
-
was simulatingprogressive
-
were simulatingprogressive
-
had been simulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of simulate
1400–50; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin simulātus (past participle of simulāre ), equivalent to simul- (variant of simil-, base of similis similar ) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
When you simulate something, you imitate it. Hollywood makeup artists can use pencils and gray wigs to simulate old age in a young actor. It can also mean to model — a computer can simulate disaster scenarios in cities. If you really admire someone's calm-under-pressure attitude, you may try to simulate their demeanor. When opening a present, it's polite to simulate surprise and excitement about the gift item, even if you already have it or it is ugly as dirt. Don't try to simulate your parents' signatures on excuse cards, though — signatures are unique to individuals and impossible to simulate perfectly.
Vocabulary lists containing simulate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Last Monday, Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, said the Ulchi Freedom exercise would simulate combat against North Korean troops battle-hardened by deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Most AI chatbots can simulate salary negotiations with voice conversations, too, which can help you can get more comfortable making your case out loud.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
These systems are significantly more difficult to simulate, but they are also directly relevant to understanding real quantum materials.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
Dashboard designers need to test new controls by using them blindfolded to simulate minimum distractibility for drivers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
They simulate a conversation, as classic style recommends, and they are gifts to the memory-challenged reader.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
The model simulates fault behavior in three dimensions while also tracking changes over time.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026
A companion chatbot is a computer program that simulates human conversations to provide users with entertainment or emotional support.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026
A piped-in soundtrack simulates urban din, and latticed wood alcoves emulate storefronts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
Opta's Supercomputer simulates every WSL match and estimates where each team will finish.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2025
And it can be intrusive in classic style, which simulates a conversation.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
On Wednesday night, Lai was put through his paces when he was escorted in an armoured vehicle convoy from the Presidential Office to a secure command centre in a simulated evacuation.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
The simulated gas moved and condensed in ways that closely resembled the observed system.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Monday, carrying a simulated warhead to a designated area in the Pacific Ocean, said Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng, a spokesman for China’s navy, according to state media.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
The process begins with scientists generating large numbers of simulated universes based on physical models.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 29, 2026
I spent my lunch period sitting in one of the green fields bordering the school, staring at the simulated scenery while I munched on a protein bar with my visor on.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
South Korean and US forces will hold major joint drills next week simulating combat against North Korean troops battle-hardened by deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war, an exercise spokesman said Monday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
The U.S. has been using and experimenting with sea drones in waters around the world to carry out a range of missions, including conducting maritime surveillance, clearing sea mines and simulating attack swarms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
In recent years it has stepped up military drills near Taiwan, including simulating blockades on the island.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Directly simulating the long-term evolution of massive binary black holes remains computationally difficult because of the enormous timescales involved.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
The players ran at full strength under the angry glaze of the lights, the first-string offense and defense going against so-called scout teams simulating the offense and defense of the coming week’s opponent.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
