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
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nonsimulateadjective
-
nonsimulativeadjective
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simulativeadjective
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simulatoryadjective
-
unsimulatedadjective
-
unsimulatingadjective
-
unsimulativeadjective
-
well-simulatedadjective
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simulativelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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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
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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:
The Oxford project began in 2022, when lead author Dr. Sebastian Saner, Dr. Oana Bazavan, and their colleagues started developing a way to simulate lattice gauge theories using a hybrid quantum system.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
The company has already exposed its TPUs to conditions that simulate space.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
World Labs, which was founded by Li, builds spatial-intelligence models that can generate and simulate physical environments using text, images and videos.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 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
"Look at the silly hippies! Look at their pathetic attempts to simulate a complex global ecosystem in their backyard."
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
The strategic board wargame was released in 1978 and simulates the entire North African campaign of World War Two.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
The model simulates fault behavior in three dimensions while also tracking changes over time.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 18, 2026
It also simulates the behavior of floating ice shelves, including those in the Ross and Weddell Seas.
From Science Daily ● May 29, 2026
Project Prometheus intends to build AI that simulates and understands the physical world.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2026
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
So I thought, OK, how about a simulated interview?
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
With their simulated loop in place, the scientists examined how a matter particle moved between locations through a process known as quantum tunneling.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026
Engineers also aimed to give car fanatics all the things they love in a gas-powered vehicle, providing a simulated engine sound and an elongated hood.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
During the bye, the Dodgers will balance practice and simulated games with rest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
“If the laboratory recognizes people, maybe it also knows data about everyone, and can present a corresponding simulated environment depending on your faction.”
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
All participants had a live conversation with a clinician and a professional interpreter, simulating the informational discussion of the risks and benefits which typically precedes myeloma treatment.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 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
We live in an age remarkably good at simulating experience: Concerts and fireworks are streamed live, and an Everest summit is rendered in IMAX.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
In recent years it has stepped up military drills near Taiwan, including simulating blockades on the island.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
The girls jerked left, then right, simulating the plane crash in dance.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
