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

—often used with that, what, etc.

Imagine that you're on a beach.

Just imagine what we could do!

Can you imagine how I felt?

I can't imagine why you're going.

There's no ghost. You're just imagining things.

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

worse than they imagined

Things will be better next year, I imagine.

Synonyms of imagine

• envision
• see
• picture

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

From inlets covered in neon-green algae, snow-white egrets took flight over ships stacked with thousands of brightly colored containers—imagine a mash-up of Gauguin and Mondrian. —John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026

History can be an incredibly important way to digest the present and then figure out what your response is and — and to imagine a future together. —NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026

The personal, intimate look invited explorers to travel back in time and imagine what once was. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026

Too many people are looking for everything in one person and not imagining a world of negotiating different things or learning from a partnership. —Ian Kerner 18 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026

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