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Dictionary / imagine

imagine

/ɪˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/ /əˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/ /ɘˈmɛd͡ʒ.ɘn/ (New-Zealand)syllables: i·ma·gine
  • verb
  • noun
  • from Middle French

To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “imagine” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

verb

  1. transitiveTo form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.

    Try to imagine a pink elephant.

  2. transitiveTo believe in something created by one's own mind, often something false.

    She imagined that the man wanted to kill her.

  3. transitiveTo assume; to suppose.

    I imagine that he will need to rest after such a long flight.

  4. transitiveTo conjecture; to guess.

    I cannot even imagine what you are up to!

  5. intransitiveTo use one's imagination.

    Imagine that we were siblings.

  6. InternetsarcastictransitiveUsed to mock an idea by suggesting that it is ridiculous or ill thought through.

    Imagine thinking that would work.

Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. obsoletetransitiveTo contrive in purpose; to scheme; to devise.
Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

noun

  1. slangA short fanfic or prompt placing a reader insert in a novel scenario with a character or celebrity.

    Some imagines are more sexual and creepy than others: "Imagine Stiles walking in on you giving Scott a blowjob."2015 March 2, Laura Starling, “FFIC101: An Introduction to the Horrors of Fanfiction”, in Critic, University of Otago, page 21:

Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (2)
  1. verbform a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case — also: conceive of, ideate, envisage
  2. verbexpect, believe, or suppose — also: think, opine, suppose, reckon, guess
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: ween

Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)imagine
  2. Middle Englishymagynen
  3. Middle Frenchimaginer
  4. Latinimāginor
  5. Latinimāginem

From Middle English ymagynen, from Middle French imaginer, from Latin imāginor, from imāginem, the accusative singular of imāgō (“a copy, likeness, image”).

Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “imagine”

disimagineimaginabilityimaginableimaginalimaginariumimaginaryimaginationimaginativeImagineerimaginifyimaginistimaginitisimaginousmisimagineoutimagineoverimaginepreimaginereimagineunimaginableunimagine

Phrases & compounds

imagine that

Related terms

imageimageryimago
Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “imagine” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “imagine” came from before it was English.

Came into English from
Middle French
Middle French imaginer
Oldest written form
Latin
Latin imāginem
Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Wiktionary’s etymology does not give a separate meaning for the earliest form of “imagine”, so we don’t state one. The historical dictionary entry below shows how the word was understood in 1913.

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

imagine v. t. [F. imaginer, L. imaginari, p. p. imaginatus, fr. imago image. See Image.]

  1. To form in the mind a notion or idea of; to form a mental image of; to conceive; to produce by the imagination.
  2. To contrive in purpose; to scheme; to devise; to compass; to purpose. See Compass, v. t., 5.

imagine v. i.

  1. To form images or conceptions; to conceive; to devise.
  2. To think; to suppose.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

verbMeaning: To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.

Try to imagine a pink elephant.

Imagine yourself in a packed airport lounge.

verbMeaning: To believe in something created by one's own mind, often something false.

She imagined that the man wanted to kill her.

There's nothing there; you're just imagining things.

verbMeaning: To assume; to suppose.

I imagine that he will need to rest after such a long flight.

verbMeaning: To conjecture; to guess.

I cannot even imagine what you are up to!

The board imagines the merger will increase profits by 25%

verbMeaning: To use one's imagination.

Imagine that we were siblings.

verbMeaning: Used to mock an idea by suggesting that it is ridiculous or ill thought through.

Imagine thinking that would work.

verbMeaning: expect, believe, or suppose

I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “imagine” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 9

Say it, then spell it

imagine

/ɪˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/ · i·ma·gine

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

imagine

/ɪˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪn/ · i·ma·gine · verb, noun

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “imagine” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (verb) To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.
2. (verb) To believe in something created by one's own mind, often something false.
3. (verb) To assume; to suppose.
4. (verb) To conjecture; to guess.
5. (verb) To use one's imagination.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“Try to imagine a pink elephant.”

A. Used to mock an idea by suggesting that it is ridiculous or ill thought through.
B. To assume; to suppose.
C. To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.

Circle the meaning used.

“She imagined that the man wanted to kill her.”

A. To use one's imagination.
B. To believe in something created by one's own mind, often something false.
C. A short fanfic or prompt placing a reader insert in a novel scenario with a character or celebrity.

Circle the meaning used.

“I imagine that he will need to rest after such a long flight.”

A. Used to mock an idea by suggesting that it is ridiculous or ill thought through.
B. A short fanfic or prompt placing a reader insert in a novel scenario with a character or celebrity.
C. To assume; to suppose.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “imagine” come into English from?   A. Ancient Greek  B. Old Norse  C. Middle French  D. Latin

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “imagine” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “imagine” to mean: To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.
Write a sentence using “imagine” to mean: To believe in something created by one's own mind, often something false.
Write a sentence using “imagine” to mean: To assume; to suppose.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — imagine

Which meaning, sentence 1: C. To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.

Which meaning, sentence 2: B. To believe in something created by one's own mind, often something false.

Which meaning, sentence 3: C. To assume; to suppose.

Origin: C. Middle French (Middle French imaginer)

Journey: English imagine ← Middle English ymagynen ← Middle French imaginer ← Latin imāginor ← Latin imāginem

Some derivatives: disimagine, imaginability, imaginable, imaginal, imaginarium, imaginary, imagination, imaginative

Etymology: From Middle English ymagynen, from Middle French imaginer, from Latin imāginor, from imāginem, the accusative singular of imāgō (“a copy, likeness, image”).

Sources: Wiktionary “imagine” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/imagine#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/imagine