emulate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass.
to emulate one's father as a concert violinist.
-
to rival with some degree of success.
Some smaller cities now emulate the major capitals in their cultural offerings.
-
Computers.
-
to imitate (a particular computer system) by using a software system, often including a microprogram or another computer that enables it to do the same work, run the same programs, etc., as the first.
-
to replace (software) with hardware to perform the same task.
-
adjective
verb
-
to attempt to equal or surpass, esp by imitation
-
to rival or compete with
-
to make one computer behave like (another different type of computer) so that the imitating system can operate on the same data and execute the same programs as the imitated system
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
emulatesimple
-
emulatessimple
-
have emulatedperfect
-
has emulatedperfect
-
am emulatingprogressive
-
are emulatingprogressive
-
is emulatingprogressive
-
have been emulatingperfect progressive
-
has been emulatingperfect progressive
Past
-
emulatedsimple
-
had emulatedperfect
-
was emulatingprogressive
-
were emulatingprogressive
-
had been emulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of emulate
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin aemulātus, past participle of aemulārī “to rival”; see emulous, -ate 1
Explanation
When you emulate someone, you imitate them, especially with the idea of matching their success. When someone is impressive because of their great skills, brains, strength, or accomplishments, others will emulate them. To emulate is to imitate and model yourself after someone. People emulate role models — people they want to be like. After Michael Jordan retired from the NBA, player after player tried to emulate Jordan's game and success. It's hard to be as good as someone like that, but having a hero to emulate can be helpful in many areas of life.
Vocabulary lists containing emulate
100 Top "SAT" Words
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!
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)
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!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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.
His model was the Bank of England, whose funding was key to Britain’s industrial revolution, which Hamilton wanted the U.S. to emulate.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
Nor is it trying to emulate the high court drama and mysticism of “House of the Dragon,” also scored by Djawadi.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
He also hinted that his side could look to emulate the French side's style of play in the future.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
Or at least they’re trying to, courtesy of the influencers who emulate a similar aura across their social media platforms.
From Salon • May 17, 2026
I spent the day in complete silence, trying to emulate the grace of the older men through the woods.
From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline
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.
