hallucinate

verb

hal·​lu·​ci·​nate hə-ˈlü-sə-ˌnāt How to pronounce hallucinate (audio)
hallucinated; hallucinating

transitive verb

1
: to affect with visions or imaginary perceptions
2
: to perceive or experience as a hallucination
hallucinator noun

Examples of hallucinate in a Sentence

The patient may hallucinate if she has a fever.
Recent Examples on the Web Existing models have a bad habit of hallucinating chemical structures that are bizarre or unworkable, much as ChatGPT hallucinates facts. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024 Another drawback is that AI tools can hallucinate and produce results that are biased and inaccurate. Ainsley MacLean, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024 People who sundown may hallucinate or have delusions about experiences from their past. Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 25 Sep. 2024 Given client privacy concerns and the potential for generative AI tools to hallucinate, using AI is only meant to be a starting point for an initial understanding of the competitive landscape or industry. Jill Collins, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hallucinate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hallucinate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin hallucinatus, past participle of hallucinari, allucinari to prate, dream, modification of Greek alyein to be distressed, to wander

First Known Use

circa 1834, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hallucinate was circa 1834

Dictionary Entries Near hallucinate

Cite this Entry

“Hallucinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hallucinate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hallucinate

verb
hal·​lu·​ci·​nate hə-ˈlüs-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce hallucinate (audio)
hallucinated; hallucinating
: to have hallucinations or experience as a hallucination

Medical Definition

hallucinate

verb
hal·​lu·​ci·​nate hə-ˈlüs-ᵊn-ˌāt How to pronounce hallucinate (audio)
hallucinated; hallucinating

transitive verb

1
: to affect with visions or imaginary perceptions
the patient is not hallucinated
2
: to perceive or experience as a hallucination
may hallucinate monsters or attackersM. J. Horowitz

More from Merriam-Webster on hallucinate

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