emulate

1 of 2

verb

em·​u·​late ˈem-yə-ˌlāt 

-yü-

emulated; emulating

transitive verb

1

a

: to strive to equal or excel

b

: imitate

especially : to imitate by means of an emulator

2

: to equal or approach equality with

emulate

2 of 2

adjective

em·​u·​late ˈem-yə-lət 

obsolete

: emulous sense 1b

pricked on by a most emulate pride

—William Shakespeare

Did you know?

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but we’ll posit that emulation is even more so. What’s the difference between imitating and emulating? Sometimes not a thing: emulate can be used as a synonym of imitate, as in “a painter who emulates her teacher’s style.” But more often, emulate is about trying to equal or surpass someone you admire by striving to master what they’ve accomplished. The word was adopted in the late 16th century from a form of the Latin word aemulārī, meaning “to vie with; to rival; to imitate.” Imitate was adopted about fifty years earlier from a form of the Latin word imitārī, meaning “to follow as a pattern; to copy.” Emulate emulated its success.

Synonyms of emulate

Verb

• come (to)
• mean
• correspond (to)
• match
• amount (to)
• equal
• signify
• add up (to)

Examples of emulate in a Sentence

Verb

If you are talking to someone younger, do not condescend. If you are talking to someone older, back up feelings with facts and never be in such a rush to make your point that you forget the art of listening. And please, no one try to emulate the histrionic, discursive style of any talking heads you see on television. —William Norwich, Vogue, 9 Sept. 2008

Although some schools are postponing new projects because of the faltering economy, others are forging ahead with plans to emulate freshman programs that have long existed at some of the nation's oldest colleges. —Jeninne Lee-St. John, Time, 27 Oct. 2008

I started out emulating Chandler in that first book, maybe the first book and a half, because I was in my novitiate, and whenever I wasn't clear on what to do I would actively think about Chandler and what Marlow would have done. —Robert B. Parker et al., Colloquium on Crime, 1986

She grew up emulating her sports heroes.

artists emulating the style of their teachers

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In picking the participating artists, the goal was to select those who emulated Parson’s musical spirit. — Melinda Newman, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2026

But what begins as emulating her mother’s favorite role-playing game turns fantastical, as the RPG itself bleeds into the real world, channeling Hattie’s grief and forcing her to rely on her father once more. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Overseas talent has helped drive our innovation and economic engine since our founding, as America fosters an unrivaled level of creativity stemming from diverse cultures that no other nation possesses and simply cannot emulate. — Eric J. Gertler, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026

Scott suggests using simple designs to emulate the feel of a vacation space. — Bria McNeal, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin aemulātus, past participle of aemulārī "to vie with, rival, imitate," derivative of aemulus "rivaling, emulous"

Adjective

borrowed from Latin aemulātus — more at emulate entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1602, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for emulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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Kids Definition

emulate

verb

em·​u·​late

ˈem-yə-ˌlāt

emulated; emulating

: to try to be like or better than

emulator

-ˌlāt-ər

noun