simulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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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unsimulativeadjective
-
simulatoryadjective
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unsimulatingadjective
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unsimulatedadjective
-
nonsimulateadjective
-
simulativelyadverb
-
simulativeadjective
-
well-simulatedadjective
-
nonsimulativeadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have simulatedperfect
-
has simulatedperfect 3rd person singular
-
is simulatingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
has been simulatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
simulatingparticiple
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are simulatingprogressive
-
simulatessingular 3rd person
-
am simulatingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been simulatingperfect progressive
Past
-
had simulatedperfect
-
simulatedparticiple
-
had been simulatingperfect progressive
-
simulatedsimple
-
was simulatingprogressive singular
-
were simulatingprogressive plural
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
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The Bluest Eye
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Space
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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.
We measured download and upload speeds, as well as latency across multiple U.S. server locations and over Wi-Fi, LTE and 5G to simulate home and public usage.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026
AI is the first invention humans have made that can simulate the process of thinking and conversing.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
"I simulate rope jumping to get my energy levels up," says the 27-year-old, who's also an amateur boxer.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Software vendors that design and simulate quantum chips—including Synopsys and Cadence—“also play an important role in resolving scalability challenges.”
From Barron's • May 6, 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
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.
