impersonate

[ verb im-pur-suh-neyt; adjective im-pur-suh-nit ]

See synonyms for: impersonate impersonation on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),im·per·son·at·ed, im·per·son·at·ing.

to assume the character or appearance of; pretend to be: He was arrested for impersonating a police officer.
to mimic the voice, mannerisms, etc., of (a person) in order to entertain.

to act or play the part of; personate.
Archaic. to represent in personal or bodily form; personify; typify.

adjectiveArchaic or Literary.

embodied in a person; invested with personality.

Origin of impersonate

First recorded in 1615–25; im-¹ + person + -ate¹

Other words from impersonate

im·per·son·a·tion [im-pur-suh-ney-shuhn], /ɪmˌpɜr səˈneɪ ʃən/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use impersonate in a sentence

My wife answered and thought it was a friend impersonating the governor.
President Cuomo Would’ve Been a Lion | Jonathan Alter | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Allen admitted that he had been worried about impersonating Walt Jr. but thought it would be discriminatory to leave him out.
One Man 'Breaking Bad' Kills on Stage | Nico Hines | August 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Last week, a video of a singer impersonating 29 different celeb voices went viral.
Viral Video of the Day: 29 ‘Perfect’ Impressions Were Faked! | Alex Chancey | July 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In the Ireland of America, locals pay little mind as mad Elvis-impersonating martial artists plotters come and go.
Oxford, MS, Famous: Elvis, Kimonos, Castor Beans, and a Grinder | Stuart Stevens | April 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Man, is he mixed up in a whole lot of different stuff, from karate to Elvis impersonating to fiction writing.
Paul Kevin Curtis and J. Everett Dutschke: Epic Feud and Ricin Letters | Winston Ross | April 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

Watch now for the glowing hands of the killer—the man who has been impersonating the Eye ever since Carlson was killed.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942 | Various
See the ideal and ethereal being whom you have been so faithfully impersonating all the afternoon!
The Daughters of Danaus | Mona Caird
Not far from Tantalus is Salmoneus, also a king, who dared to challenge the gods by impersonating Jupiter.
Stories of Old Greece and Rome | Emilie Kip Baker
His career had been a long one of varied villainy, he impersonating alternately a parson and a rich shipowner.
Windjammers and Sea Tramps | Walter Runciman
She heard the murmur that arose when Philip started to capture the exquisite golden creature she was impersonating.
A Girl Of The Limberlost | Gene Stratton Porter

British Dictionary definitions for impersonate

impersonate

/ (ɪmˈpɜːsəˌneɪt) /

verb(tr)

to pretend to be (another person)
to imitate the character, mannerisms, etc, of (another person)

rare to play the part or character of
an archaic word for personify

Derived forms of impersonate

impersonation, noun
impersonator, noun

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

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