Dictionary.com

imagine

[ ih-maj-in ]
/ ɪˈmædʒ ɪn /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: imagine / imagined / imagining on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), im·ag·ined, im·ag·in·ing.
verb (used without object), im·ag·ined, im·ag·in·ing.
to form mental images of things not present to the senses; use the imagination.
to suppose; think; conjecture.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of imagine

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English imaginen from Middle French imaginer from Latin imāginārī, equivalent to imāgin- (stem of imāgō ) image + -ā- thematic vowel + -rī infinitive ending

synonym study for imagine

1. Imagine, conceive, conceive of, realize refer to bringing something before the mind. To imagine is, literally, to form a mental image of something: to imagine yourself in London. To conceive is to form something by using one's imagination: How has the author conceived the first act of his play? To conceive of is to comprehend through the intellect something not perceived through the senses: Wilson conceived of a world free from war. To realize is to make an imagined thing real or concrete to oneself, to grasp fully its implications: to realize the extent of one's folly.

OTHER WORDS FROM imagine

Words nearby imagine

imaginary part, imaginary runner, imaginary unit, imagination, imaginative, imagine, imagineer, imagineering, imaging, imagism, imago
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT IMAGINE

What does imagine mean?

To imagine is to form a mental likeness of something or someone not present, as in Imagine flying in a rocket to Mars.

To imagine also means to think of something, especially in a way that it is not currently, as in Imagine what the house might look like after all these years.

To imagine is also to assume, as in Oh dear, the teacher imagined that we all did our homework.

Finally, to imagine can mean to guess, as in Can you imagine what it would be like for it to snow in the summer?

Example: I can’t imagine they will take much longer, so we should just wait here.

Where does imagine come from?

The first records of the term imagine come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin imāginārī.

Imagine is sometimes used for describing daydreaming, especially about something that you might find pleasant but probably cannot happen. A famous example of this is John Lennon’s song “Imagine,” which asks the listener to imagine a world without greed, hatred, or suffering. And in his song “God’s Plan,” which is about his belief that everything happens for a reason, Drake sings, “Imagine if I never met the broskis.”

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to imagine?

What are some synonyms for imagine?

What are some words that share a root or word element with imagine? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing imagine?

How is imagine used in real life?

Imagine is commonly used in casual conversations to talk about forming mental images.

 

 

 

Try using imagine!

Is imagine used correctly in the following sentence?

Imagine what it must be like to cross the Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

Words related to imagine

brainstorm, conceptualize, create, depict, devise, envisage, envision, fabricate, fancy, fantasize, fantasy, feature, figure, form, frame, harbor, image, invent, nurture, perceive

How to use imagine in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for imagine

imagine
/ (ɪˈmædʒɪn) /
verb
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to form a mental image of
(when tr, may take a clause as object) to think, believe, or guess
(tr; takes a clause as object) to suppose; assumeI imagine he'll come
(tr; takes a clause as object) to believe or assume without foundationhe imagines he knows the whole story
an archaic word for plot 1
sentence substitute
Also: imagine that! an exclamation of surprise

Derived forms of imagine

imaginable, adjectiveimaginably, adverbimaginer, noun

Word Origin for imagine

C14: from Latin imāginārī to fancy, picture mentally, from imāgō likeness; see image
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK