imitate

verb

im·​i·​tate ˈi-mə-ˌtāt 

imitated; imitating

transitive verb

1

: to follow as a pattern, model, or example

Her style has been imitated by many other writers.

2

a

: to copy or repeat (the form, character, qualities, conduct, manners, etc.) of someone or something : mimic, counterfeit

can imitate his father's booming voice

The scout imitated the bird's call.

b

: to resemble by biological mimicry

chameleons imitating their background

The viceroy butterfly is said to imitate the monarch.

3

: to be or appear like : resemble

a fabric that imitates silk

4

: to produce a copy of : reproduce

… able to imitate the various brilliant and delightful touches of nature.

—Anne Brontë

imitator

ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tər 

noun

Synonyms of imitate

• emulate
• copy
• mimic

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, unoriginal, 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

Almost all woman writers have imitated men in that way. —Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

If your teenager—especially your teen boy—is using mogging to compare themselves to their peers or influencers, and changes their appearance or personality to imitate those people, the pressure to 'mog' might be harming their self-esteem. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 Nov. 2025

Life imitates art when a giant anaconda appears to terrorize the film set. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025

Tirzepatide works by imitating two hormones produced in the gut called GLP-1 and GIP. —Annika Kim Constantino,jacob Pramuk, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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.

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for imitate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

imitate

verb

im·​i·​tate ˈim-ə-ˌtāt 

imitated; imitating

1

: to follow as a pattern, model, or example

2

: to be or appear similar to

3

: to copy exactly

imitator

-ˌtāt-ər 

noun