imitate

im·i·tate | \ ˈi-mə-ˌtāt

How to pronounce imitate (audio)

\

imitated; imitating

Definition of imitate

transitive verb

1 : to follow as a pattern, model, or example

2 : mimic, counterfeit can imitate his father's booming voice

3 : to be or appear like : resemble

4 : to produce a copy of : reproduce

Other Words from imitate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about imitate

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Choose the Right Synonym for imitate

copy, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing. copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible. copied the painting and sold the fake as an original imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation. imitate a poet's style mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation. pupils mimicking their teacher ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original. American fashion designers aped their European colleagues mock usually implies imitation with derision. mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Examples of imitate in a Sentence

Her style has been imitated by many other writers. He's very good at imitating his father's voice. She can imitate the calls of many different birds.

Recent Examples on the Web Ali and Lemon laughed with Wilson, who used fake a southern accent to imitate a Trump supporter. — Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, "'Fake victimhood': CNN panelists dismiss backlash over segment mocking Trump supporters," 28 Jan. 2020 That’s why fly fishing enthusiasts will go to extreme lengths to imitate these graceful, elegant and fragile insects. — Boris Kondratieff, The Conversation, "Stoneflies and mayflies, canaries of our streams," 22 Jan. 2020 Half of the slowdown in labour-productivity growth in recent years reflects not a failure to imitate but a failure to accumulate: weak investment has left labour with too little capital to work with. — The Economist, "Emerging economies are experiencing a prolonged productivity slowdown," 18 Jan. 2020 Researchers have long sought to imitate photosynthesis, harnessing the energy of the Sun to generate chemical fuels. — Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, "Taking a cue from plants, new chemical approach converts carbon dioxide to valuable fuel," 8 Jan. 2020 The witness pinched his fingers and dropped them down to imitate his wife putting cash in her purse. — Rachel Nolan, The New Yorker, "A Translation Crisis at the Border," 30 Dec. 2019 AlphaStar started its training by learning to imitate from a set of nearly one million human games. — Dan Garisto, Scientific American, "AI Beats Top Human Players at Strategy Game StarCraft II," 31 Oct. 2019 Several Dodgers hopped the dugout rail to imitate third base coach Dino Ebel waving Freese home. — Los Angeles Times, "The Sports Report: Dodgers win Game 3," 7 Oct. 2019 Maybe this is the more important question: Will the U.S. Space Force also imitate some of the values of Starfleet? — Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, "Why the U.S. Space Force Should Boldly Embrace Star Trek," 27 Jan. 2020

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

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Dictionary Entries near imitate

imitatio Christi

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Last Updated

18 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Imitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imitate. Accessed 24 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for imitate

imitate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of imitate

: to make or do something the same way as (something else)

: to do the same thing as (someone)

: to copy (someone's or something's behavior, sound, appearance, etc.)

See the full definition for imitate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

imitate

im·i·tate | \ ˈi-mə-ˌtāt

\

imitated; imitating

Kids Definition of imitate

1 : to follow as a pattern, model, or example He tried to imitate the older boys.

2 : to be or appear like : resemble The vinyl imitates leather.

3 : to copy exactly : mimic She can imitate bird calls.

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