hallucinate

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verb hal·lu·ci·nate \ hə-ˈlü-sə-ˌnāt \

Definition of hallucinate

hallucinated; hallucinating

transitive verb

1 :to affect with visions or imaginary perceptions

2 :to perceive or experience as a hallucination

intransitive verb

:to have hallucinations

—

hallucinator

play \hə-ˈlü-sə-ˌnā-tər\ noun

See hallucinate defined for English-language learners

See hallucinate defined for kids

Examples of hallucinate in a Sentence

The patient may hallucinate if she has a fever.

Recent Examples of hallucinate from the Web

On the drive to the airport, I was stuffed, drunk on mayo, and hallucinating about sandwiches.

— andrew knowlton, Bon Appetit, "No. 01Turkey and the WolfNew Orleans," 15 Aug. 2017
During her ayahuasca trip, Julie hallucinates a duet between her happy, stay-at-home crafty self and her miserable, walking-outside-at-night-in-the-rain, struggling-comedian self.

— patrick crowley, Billboard, "Julie Klausner Picks Her 10 Favorite Music Moments From 'Difficult People'," 8 Aug. 2017
Guided hikes away from the ship brought the kind of silence that makes your ears hallucinate a dull buzz.

— cynthia drescher, CNT, "What It's Really Like to Cruise to the North Pole," 31 July 2017
Emmitt Roach, 30, of the Covington area, appeared to be hallucinating and under the influence of an unknown substance during the incident, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

— robert rhoden, NOLA.com, "Man with knife tried to break into Covington-area homes: sheriff," 25 July 2017
Piacsek and other scientists are skeptical of stories about people hallucinating in anechoic chambers — and the supposed 45-minute record.

— sandi doughton, The Seattle Times, "A room where sound goes to die — and scientists go to study," 3 July 2017
No, the former director of the San Diego Zoo wasn’t hallucinating in the Miami heat.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "Jungle Island is getting a new identity: an action-adventure park," 18 June 2017
Caller reported a 90 year old who is possibly hallucinating and banging on the walls.

— patricia bicoy, Orange County Register, "Laguna Woods Police Blotter, May 29 – June 3," 6 June 2017
Caregivers often arrive at Durant’s clinic after the person with dementia has started hallucinating or can no longer sustain a conversation.

— jessica wapner, Newsweek, "As Rural America Faces an Onslaught of Alzheimer's Disease, States Look to Radical Ways to Help," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hallucinate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hallucinate

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

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First Known Use: circa 1834

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HALLUCINATE Defined for English Language Learners

hallucinate

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verb

Definition of hallucinate for English Language Learners

: to see or sense something or someone that is not really there : to have hallucinations

Medical Dictionary

hallucinate

play

verb hal·lu·ci·nate \ hə-ˈlüs-ᵊn-ˌāt \

medical Definition of hallucinate

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 attackers
—M. J. Horowitz

intransitive verb

:to have hallucinations

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See words that rhyme with hallucinate Spanish Central: Translation of hallucinate Nglish: Translation of hallucinate for Spanish speakers

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hallucinate

Definition of hallucinate

hallucinator

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Origin and Etymology of hallucinate

HALLUCINATE Defined for English Language Learners

hallucinate

Definition of hallucinate for English Language Learners

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hallucinate

medical Definition of hallucinate

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hallucinate

Definition of hallucinate

hallucinator

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Origin and Etymology of hallucinate

HALLUCINATE Defined for English Language Learners

hallucinate

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hallucinate

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