imagine

verb

imag·​ine i-ˈma-jən 

imagined; imagining i-ˈma-jə-niŋ 

-ˈmaj-nə-

transitive verb

1

: to form a mental image of (something not present)

imagine accidents at every turn

2

: suppose, guess

I imagine it will rain

3

: to form a notion of without sufficient basis : fancy

imagines himself to be a charming conversationalist

4

archaic : plan, scheme

intransitive verb

1

: to use the imagination

2

: believe sense 3

Synonyms

• conceit [chiefly dialect]
• conceive
• conjure (up)
• dream
• envisage
• envision
• fancy
• fantasize
• fantasy
• feature
• ideate
• image
• picture
• see
• vision
• visualize

Choose the Right Synonym for imagine

think, conceive, imagine, fancy, realize, envisage, envision mean to form an idea of.

think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation

envisioned a cure for the disease

Examples of imagine in a Sentence

a writer who has imagined an entire world of amazing creatures

He asked us to imagine a world without poverty or war.

It's hard for me to imagine having children.

He was imagining all sorts of terrible things happening.

“What was that sound? I think there's someone in the house!” “Oh, you're just imagining things.”

I imagine it will snow at some point today.

It's difficult to imagine that these changes will really be effective.

The company will do better next year, I imagine.

It was worse than they had imagined.

Recent Examples on the Web

This imagined America is studded with names borrowed from the real one: St. Louis might be a mere backwater, but T. S. Eliot is still among its locals. —The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

They were referred to as Associates and they were encouraged to imagine themselves as ‘Owners’ of their stores who had permission to provide the best service possible. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

The movie imagines a worst-case scenario in which American society unravels beyond comprehension, and centers the frontline journalists trying to make sense of the ensuing chaos. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024

This would require imagining a new Rwanda that transcended ethnic differences, in which individual endowment, lofty dreams, hard work, and a bit of luck determined one’s fate rather than the accident of birth. —Jonathan M. Hansen, TIME, 7 Apr. 2024

The specialist trauma coach, who served for almost a decade in the Canadian Air Force, works 50 hours a week and can’t imagine life without his work. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2024

Now imagine a future where some Chinese trillionaires decide to help out children in our country. —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024

Like Parson, Khan never would have imagined Singh would be involved in anything criminal. —James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2024

But Henry has clearly spent some time imagining them as one of the couples she’s written. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ymagynen, borrowed from Anglo-French ymaginer, borrowed from Latin imāginārī, verbal derivative of imāgin-, imāgō "representation, semblance, image entry 1"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing imagine

• imagine that

Kids Definition

imagine

verb

imag·​ine im-ˈaj-ən 

imagined; imagining -ˈaj-(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to form a mental picture of : use the imagination

2

: think sense 2, suppose

I imagine it will snow

Medical Definition

imagine

verb

imag·​ine im-ˈaj-ən 

imagined; imagining -ˈaj-(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to form a mental image of (something not present)

intransitive verb

: to use the imagination