hallucinate

verb

hal·​lu·​ci·​nate hə-ˈlü-sə-ˌnāt 

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

hə-ˈlü-sə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

Examples of hallucinate in a Sentence

The patient may hallucinate if she has a fever.

Recent Examples on the Web

Represented by the powerhouse Wigdor firm, Metro’s lawyers allege that LeMaistre came up with the idea to sue the producer while hallucinating on ayahuasca. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025

Also, the scene where Pi hallucinates blindness and a talking Richard Parker (in French, oddly) is terrific. —Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025

Tiktok Benadryl Overdose Challenge Harms 13-year-old Last week, when her daughter began hallucinating, her mother noticed pills under her pillow. —Alison Escalante, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

The anonymous teen's mother, who did not release her daughter's name for privacy, told local outlet WMBF News that her daughter began hallucinating last week and her heart rate reached nearly 200 beats per minute. —Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025

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

Kids Definition

hallucinate

verb

hal·​lu·​ci·​nate hə-ˈlüs-ə-ˌnāt 

hallucinated; hallucinating

: to have hallucinations or experience as a hallucination

Medical Definition

hallucinate

verb

hal·​lu·​ci·​nate hə-ˈlüs-ᵊn-ˌāt 

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