simulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
simulates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
simulated,
past participle, past
-
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
-
nonsimulateadjective
-
nonsimulativeadjective
-
simulativeadjective
-
simulatoryadjective
-
unsimulatedadjective
-
unsimulatingadjective
-
unsimulativeadjective
-
well-simulatedadjective
-
simulativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
simulatesimple
-
simulatessimple
-
have simulatedperfect
-
has simulatedperfect
-
am simulatingprogressive
-
are simulatingprogressive
-
is simulatingprogressive
-
have been simulatingperfect progressive
-
has been simulatingperfect progressive
Past
-
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
Word Generation Science - Scientific Thinking
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Bluest Eye
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Space
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
World Labs, which was founded in 2024, develops spatial-intelligence models that can generate and simulate three-dimensional environments using text, image and video inputs.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
Li founded World Labs to develop what she calls "spatial intelligence" -- technology that can simulate 3D environments from images, video and text.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
World Labs focuses on spatially intelligent AI models that can generate and simulate interactive 3-D environments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
But her own bet is that, over time, the sites could "reinforce the same addictive neural networks they are trying to simulate".
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Initially I had thought with hard work I could overcome a fundamental squeamishness and distaste for my subject, that perhaps with even harder work I could simulate something like a talent for it.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
The team also tested the vaccine in a preclinical human model using the Wyss Institute's microfluidic human Organ Chip technology, which simulates a human lymph node in vitro.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 17, 2026
A piped-in soundtrack simulates urban din, and latticed wood alcoves emulate storefronts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
Red Dead Redemption puts you in the saddle for a Wild West cowboy fantasy, while Crusader Kings simulates all the drama of European royalty.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026
A companion chatbot is a computer program that simulates humanlike conversations to provide users with entertainment or emotional support.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2025
Others, led by an instinct that simulates foresight, merely lay their eggs on a leaf so that a browsing caterpillar will eat them inadvertently.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
"While we still need more empirical data to know if simulated shopping can satisfy a consumer urge, evidence from simulated consumption in gaming shows it can be highly effective," he says.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
The Danes started off the previous night by attacking the brigade’s assembly areas with drones launching simulated payloads.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Right-hander Roki Sasaki, who went on the IL last month with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand, threw a simulated game Wednesday afternoon and could return shortly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
When the simulated environment rewarded smell, every region within the distributed system expanded while the neocortex became smaller.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026
A camera goes down with you, though, videotaping your simulated death, so you can take it home and relive those 8.5 seconds in the comfort of your living room.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Haptics allow people to interact with devices by simulating the sense of touch or feel through vibrations.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
"By simulating quark confinement and string-breaking phenomena in a controlled lab environment, we're opening up new pathways for experimental investigations into the behavior of matter at its most fundamental level."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
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
Cadence’s EDA systems include software and hardware for designing, simulating and verifying chips and printed circuit boards before production.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 20, 2026
Ty understood that he didn't know the kind of war he was simulating in the game.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
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.
