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

At a recent hearing on his disciplinary charges, the state presented evidence that Becker admitted to hallucinating while at work and to needing fluids prior to work shifts. —Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 6 Mar. 2026

Song was dehydrated and hallucinating, the witness said. —Emerson Clarridge updated March 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Mar. 2026

Colby scrambles through someone else’s bag like way back in season two, and someone hallucinates beef jerky. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026

The report was riddled with fake citations that appeared to be hallucinated by AI, which the White House attributed to formatting errors; HHS then corrected the report by removing the false citations and swapping in new references. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026

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