imitate

[im-i-teyt]

verb (used with object)

imitated, imitating 

1. to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example.

   to imitate an author's style; to imitate an older brother.

2. to mimic; impersonate.

   The students imitated the teacher behind her back.

   Synonyms: mock, ape

3. to make a copy of; reproduce closely.

4. to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble.

imitate

/ ˈɪmɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to try to follow the manner, style, character, etc, of or take as a model

   many writers imitated the language of Shakespeare

2. to pretend to be or to impersonate, esp for humour; mimic

3. to make a copy or reproduction of; duplicate; counterfeit

4. to make or be like; resemble or simulate

   her achievements in politics imitated her earlier successes in business

Other Word Forms

• imitability noun
• imitator noun
• imitable adjective
• nonimitating adjective
• overimitate verb (used with object)
• preimitate verb (used with object)
• unimitated adjective
• unimitating adjective
• well-imitated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imitate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin imitātus, past participle of imitārī “to copy,” presumably a frequentative akin to the base of imāgō image

Word History and Origins

Origin of imitate¹

C16: from Latin imitārī; see _image

Synonym Study

Imitate, copy, duplicate, reproduce all mean to follow or try to follow an example or pattern. Imitate is the general word for the idea: to imitate someone's handwriting, behavior. To copy is to make a fairly exact imitation of an original creation: to copy a sentence, a dress, a picture. To duplicate is to produce something that exactly resembles or corresponds to something else; both may be originals: to duplicate the terms of two contracts. To reproduce is to make a likeness or reconstruction of an original: to reproduce a 16th-century theater.

Example Sentences

Some have even apparently imitated Hervé Villechaize shouting “Da plane, boss, da plane,” as they refer to Vance, though I’m told “discretion is advised” when and where such jokes are made.

From Salon

Whenever she shares a recipe or a baked creation, hundreds of fans rush to imitate it.

From Salon

While AI-generated music is rife online, it's often released under fictitious names, or imitates big stars, but it doesn't normally appear on their official streaming pages.

From BBC

“If you look at the Democratic Party, he’s at least getting up there, and he’s trying to imitate a Trumpian vision of fighting, right?” he told Politico.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s not an example of art imitating life so much as art painting the future.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• act like www.thesaurus.com
• ape 
• assume 
• duplicate 
• echo 
• emulate 
• impersonate 
• mimic 
• mirror 
• mock 
• pretend 
• replicate 
• reproduce 
• resemble 
• simulate