imagine

[ih-maj-in]

verb (used with object)

imagined, imagining 

1. to form a mental image of (something not actually present to the senses).

   Synonyms: picture, image

2. to think, believe, or fancy.

   He imagined the house was haunted.

3. to assume; suppose.

   I imagine they'll be here soon.

4. to conjecture; guess.

   I cannot imagine what you mean.

5. Archaic.,  to plan, scheme, or plot.

verb (used without object)

imagined, imagining 

1. to form mental images of things not present to the senses; use the imagination.

2. to suppose; think; conjecture.

imagine

/ ɪˈmædʒɪn /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to form a mental image of

2. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to think, believe, or guess

3. (tr; takes a clause as object) to suppose; assume

   I imagine he'll come

4. (tr; takes a clause as object) to believe or assume without foundation

   he imagines he knows the whole story

5. an archaic word for plot 1

1. Also: imagine that!. an exclamation of surprise

Other Word Forms

• imaginable adjective
• imaginer noun
• imaginably adverb
• preimagine verb (used with object)
• reimagine verb (used with object)
• unimagined adjective
• well-imagined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imagine¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English imaginen from Middle French imaginer from Latin imāginārī, equivalent to imāgin- (stem of imāgō ) image + -ā- thematic vowel + -rī infinitive ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of imagine¹

C14: from Latin imāginārī to fancy, picture mentally, from imāgō likeness; see _image

Synonym Study

Imagine, conceive, conceive of, realize refer to bringing something before the mind. To imagine is, literally, to form a mental image of something: to imagine yourself in London. To conceive is to form something by using one's imagination: How has the author conceived the first act of his play? To conceive of is to comprehend through the intellect something not perceived through the senses: Wilson conceived of a world free from war. To realize is to make an imagined thing real or concrete to oneself, to grasp fully its implications: to realize the extent of one's folly.

Example Sentences

This is about as big a reshuffle as you could imagine, short of replacing the chancellor of the exchequer.

From BBC

Several told the BBC that whatever the cause, they could not imagine using the funicular again.

From BBC

I want to imagine the journey the furniture had before it got to me.

From Los Angeles Times

“She is very resourceful,” Dockery agrees of Mary’s tenacity and ability to imagine a new future for Downton, particularly new ways of funding the estate.

From Los Angeles Times

“I can’t imagine what people who don’t regularly follow this, but do want to maintain protection from serious consequences of COVID, are doing.”

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What does imagine mean?

To imagine is to form a mental likeness of something or someone not present, as in Imagine flying in a rocket to Mars.To imagine also means to think of something, especially in a way that it is not currently, as in Imagine what the house might look like after all these years.To imagine is also to assume, as in Oh dear, the teacher imagined that we all did our homework.Finally, to imagine can mean to guess, as in Can you imagine what it would be like for it to snow in the summer?Example: I can’t imagine they will take much longer, so we should just wait here.