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View synonyms for

imagine

[ih-maj-in]

verb (used with object)

imagined, imagining 
  1. to form a mental image of (something not actually present to the senses).

    Synonyms: ,
  2. to think, believe, or fancy.

    He imagined the house was haunted.

  3. to assume; suppose.

    I imagine they'll be here soon.

  4. to conjecture; guess.

    I cannot imagine what you mean.

  5. Archaic.to plan, scheme, or plot.



verb (used without object)

imagined, imagining 
  1. to form mental images of things not present to the senses; use the imagination.

  2. to suppose; think; conjecture.

imagine

/ ɪˈæɪ /

verb

  1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to form a mental image of

  2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to think, believe, or guess

  3. (tr; takes a clause as object) to suppose; assume

    I imagine he'll come

  4. (tr; takes a clause as object) to believe or assume without foundation

    he imagines he knows the whole story

  5. an archaic word for plot 1

“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
  1. Also: imagine that!.an exclamation of surprise

“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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Other Word Forms

  • imaginer noun
  • preimagine verb (used with object)
  • reimagine verb (used with object)
  • unimagined adjective
  • well-imagined adjective
  • ˈԲ adjective
  • ˈԱ noun
  • ˈԲ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of imagine1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English imaginen from Middle French imaginer from Latin 岵ī, equivalent to 岵- (stem of 岵ō ) image + -- thematic vowel + infinitive ending
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Word History and Origins

Origin of imagine1

C14: from Latin 岵ī to fancy, picture mentally, from 岵ō likeness; see image
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Synonym Study

Imagine, conceive, conceive of, realize refer to bringing something before the mind. To imagine is, literally, to form a mental image of something: to imagine yourself in London. To conceive is to form something by using one's imagination: How has the author conceived the first act of his play? To conceive of is to comprehend through the intellect something not perceived through the senses: Wilson conceived of a world free from war. To realize is to make an imagined thing real or concrete to oneself, to grasp fully its implications: to realize the extent of one's folly.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“For eighth-graders, there would be heartache around not having parents there, but I can also imagine if anything were to happen, they would feel a lot of guilt,” Aguirre said.

From

It's hard to imagine their opponents, Australia, suffering from the same chronic lack of self-conviction.

From

"But Slot loves Szobozslai, he does so much and helps Salah. You would imagine he will try and find a way to get both of them if he can."

From

“It’s hard to imagine that whatever we see over the weekend is going to be an organized, armed attempt to overthrow the government,” Goitein said.

From

Although he’s a citizen now, she said she can imagine the stress of keeping the business open while fearing deportation.

From

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When To Use

does imagine mean?

To imagine is to form a mental likeness of something or someone not present, as in Imagine flying in a rocket to Mars.To imagine also means to think of something, especially in a way that it is not currently, as in Imagine what the house might look like after all these years.To imagine is also to assume, as in Oh dear, the teacher imagined that we all did our homework.Finally, to imagine can mean to guess, as in Can you imagine what it would be like for it to snow in the summer?Example: I can’t imagine they will take much longer, so we should just wait here.

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