imitate

verb

im·i·tate | \ ˈi-mə-ˌtāt

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

Biden said on Tuesday night, imitating the Southern drawl of the Mississippi senator. — Author: Matt Viser, Sean Sullivan, Anchorage Daily News, "Biden faces backlash over comments about ‘civility’ of his past work with racist senators," 20 June 2019 Art imitated life, and during this time nautical fiction was a predominant literary genre. — Eric Desatnik, Quartz, "We should care more about the deep sea than we do deep space," 20 June 2019 California could steal Texas’s expansive approach to housebuilding; Texas could imitate California’s investment in outstanding universities. — The Economist, "Texafornia dreaming," 20 June 2019 In December 2018, Desmond, imitating Gwen Stefani, performed at a Brooklyn gay bar in a wig and crop-top as hooting adult men threw dollar bills. — Madeleine Kearns, National Review, "‘Desmond Is Amazing’ Needs Saving," 11 June 2019 In all those records from the ‘60s, all the groups were singing (imitating a falsetto) way up there! — Randy Cordova, azcentral, "How singer Steve Tyrell brings blue-eyed soul to the standards," 11 June 2019 Isaac stopped and the ghost stopped, as if imitating him. — Adam O’fallon Price, Harper's magazine, "The Maid’s Story," 10 June 2019 Or, as a backup, surely someone has been groomed to feebly attempt to imitate him, bravely enduring backlash until eventually being accepted as a (sigh) better-than-nothing substitute? — latimes.com, "Feedback: Readers react to our coverage of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and ‘Rocketman’," 8 June 2019 Writing meaningful text is a complex human task, but artificial intelligence is learning how to imitate it more convincingly. — Cynthia Hua, WSJ, "Leadership Advice, Courtesy of Artificial Intelligence," 1 Apr. 2019

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.

History and Etymology for imitate

borrowed from Latin imitātus, past participle of imitārī "to follow as a pattern, copy," frequentative derivative of a presumed verb *imā- "make a copy," perhaps going back to Indo-European *h₂im-, whence also Hittite hima-, himma- "substitute, replica, toy"

Note: Aside from Hittite, evidence for an etymon *h₂im- is lacking. See also etymology and note at emulous.

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