1
as in to imagine
to form a mental picture of
it takes an idealist to conceive a world without war, and an activist to make it happen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
I cannot conceive the reason for such pointless vandalism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to think
to have as an opinion
I just can't conceive that he would have lied
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conceive
Because Israel had never conceived of its attacks on Hezbollah as a war of aggression in the first place, the assertion of this right amounted to a threat to return to Lebanon for further rounds of demolition.
—
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
People with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, are likely well acquainted with the challenges the endocrine disorder presents for fertility and the discomfort associated with irregular periods, painful ovarian cysts, weight gain, and difficulty conceiving as a result of elevated androgen levels.
—Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 2 Sep. 2025
Another pilgrimage-worthy hotel is The Singapore EDITION, which opened on Orchard Boulevard in 2023 to much fanfare, having been conceived by the same architects behind Singapore’s lauded Jewel Changi Airport.
—AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
As Jon Bon Jovi explained in a statement, the collaboration album was conceived as the singer recovered from vocal cord surgery while promoting the original LP.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conceive
Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
People with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, are likely well acquainted with the challenges the endocrine disorder presents for fertility and the discomfort associated with irregular periods, painful ovarian cysts, weight gain, and difficulty conceiving as a result of elevated androgen levels.
—Sam Manzella, Flow Space, 2 Sep. 2025
Another pilgrimage-worthy hotel is The Singapore EDITION, which opened on Orchard Boulevard in 2023 to much fanfare, having been conceived by the same architects behind Singapore’s lauded Jewel Changi Airport.
—AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
As Jon Bon Jovi explained in a statement, the collaboration album was conceived as the singer recovered from vocal cord surgery while promoting the original LP.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceive
Verb
-
As explained in the behind-the-scenes dive, the BAFTA Award-winning composer imagined the sound in images, sampled MRI sounds, and composed the actual score for a trap beat.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Enthralling both fellow captives and the Bey of Algiers, Cervantes, his spirit unbroken, also imagines a daring escape plan.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These measurements are fundamental to understanding how greenhouse gas emissions relate to rising temperatures, simultaneously contributing to scientific research and informing policymakers of compliance with environmental regulations.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 Sep. 2025
-
If the marathons of New York and London showcase splendour and establishment and magnificence and size and place, then the Great North Run offers something else; to complete it, to witness it, is to understand its pull.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of more than 5,800 exoplanets, but billions are thought to exist, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
This biomimetic approach to AI development would position Malaysia to export not just technological products, but technological philosophies — ways of thinking about intelligence that emerge from ecological rather than industrial metaphors.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The audience was shocked – which is just what Gaga envisioned.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
However, the Ulrich plan largely predicted it right, envisioning a district that would absorb all of California’s northern state line with Oregon, stretching to Nevada.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
He was reportedly known to law enforcement to wear a shoulder holster on the left side of his body.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Sep. 2025
-
In late March, a 3-year-old Leavenworth boy known as EJ fell asleep for the night on a neighbor’s couch after eating grapes.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Skinner believes a club like Manchester United should be attracting players of Rolfo’s calibre.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Taylor also drew false-start and holding penalties in the first half, and teammate Travis Kelce had seen enough during the Chiefs’ season-opening game Friday against the Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
However, only select regions will get to see the eclipse, including New Zealand, southern Australia, parts of the Pacific and Atlantic, Asia, Africa, and Antarctica.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
People can't comprehend that this is all tape and an art project.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Generations of alumni and parishioners are now struggling to comprehend how the church that baptized them, married them and educated their children became the site of such devastation.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceive. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share