A1verb1K

Imagine

UK /["/ɪˈmædʒɪn/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnz/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnd/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnɪŋ/"]/US /["/ɪˈmædʒɪn/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnz/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnd/","/ɪˈmædʒɪnɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to form a picture in your mind of what something might be like

In simple words: To think about something that is not present or real.

Examples

  • Can you imagine how beautiful the sunset will be?
  • I like to imagine a world without violence.
  • Imagine all the possibilities that lie ahead!
  • She could not imagine living in a big city.
  • Imagine if we could fly like birds.

Usage notes

Use 'imagine' to express thoughts or visuals in casual and creative contexts. It's appropriate for storytelling or brainstorming but might not fit formal writing.

Grammar pattern

imagine + object

Memory hint

Imagine it as 'I-maj-in' — think of a magician pulling ideas out of a hat.

Collocations

  • clearly
  • easily
  • readily
  • can
  • try to
  • begin to
  • let us imagine
  • really
  • seriously
  • almost
  • be easy to
  • be imagining things
  • real and imagined
  • real or imagined

Synonyms

  • suppose, assume

Antonyms

  • dismiss
  • ignore
  • disbelieve

Common mistakes

  • 'Imagine' used without an object, resulting in incomplete sentences.
  • Confusing 'imagine' with 'imaginable', which has a different meaning.
  • Using 'imagine' in past forms incorrectly, like 'imagined' when referring to ongoing thoughts.