imagine

verb

i-ˈma-jən How to pronounce imagine (audio)
Definition of imaginenext
1
as in to envision
to form a mental picture of she was determined to have the wedding that she had always imagined

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to think
to have as an opinion I imagine that's true, but you still have to prove it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to guess
to form an opinion from little or no evidence I imagine things will change rapidly once we begin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word imagine distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of imagine are conceive, envisage, envision, fancy, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When is it sensible to use conceive instead of imagine?

While the synonyms conceive and imagine are close in meaning, conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of imagine?

Both 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

When could fancy be used to replace imagine?

The words fancy and imagine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

When is realize a more appropriate choice than imagine?

The meanings of realize and imagine largely overlap; however, realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

Where would think be a reasonable alternative to imagine?

The words think and imagine can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imagine Just imagining who could play Colman Smith in a TV or movie version of Pixie is enough to seriously excite the producers strutting the Olympia halls. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025 Like, imagine how different the world would be if police officers had this same energy for, say, the NYPD, killing hundreds of civilian complaints accusing the department of misconduct. — Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 7 Mar. 2025 The Evening Standard never filled that role, even at its best, and the paper’s near-demise has led to a flowering of new projects that report on and imagine the city. — Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2025 And that doesn’t even factor in the choice of coaches in June, which has worked out far better than any of us could have imagined. — Mirjam Swanson, Orange County Register, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for imagine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imagine
  1. envision
  2. think
  3. guess
  4. see
  5. believe
  6. assume
  7. picture
  8. consider
Verb
  • Lake Havasu City, Arizona Anyone moving to Lake Havasu City for retirement likely envisions spending as much time as possible outside.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
  • It was envisioned by Frances Perkins during the Great Depression.
    — E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of envision
Verb
  • Teigen thinks a Bravo show might be more her speed.
    — Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Everyone thought my mom was a saint for being my dad's wife, for taking care of not just him but our entire household.
    — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of think
Verb
  • With real-time data missing, the broader community is left guessing about which strains are circulating in the United States right now — an especially concerning blind spot given the threat of H5N1 and the constant mutation of seasonal flu viruses.
    — Richard Hughes IV, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025
  • As fans of Meredith Grey's chaotic love life can probably guess, the scene in question was her one-night stand with T.R. Knight's George O' Malley.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of guess
Verb
  • After Uncle Sam got on the motorcycle, as previously seen on every night of both residencies, there was an edit, and then a cut right to the skeletal avatar driving around a neon cartoon rendering of the streets of Las Vegas.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The rum-baba renaissance currently sweeping London sees this long-standing convention as a negotiable starting point.
    — Hilary Armstrong, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of see
Verb
  • Turk-Browne believes there are multiple possible explanations, including the theory that those recollections simply never make it to the long-term storage regions of the brain.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2025
  • About six people, believed to be teenagers, fled the house and ran into the nearby Edenwald Houses, according to police sources.
    — Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of believe
Verb
  • The act's fine print states that the president can only assume this authority once Congress has declared war.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Begin the transition one to two months before the new baby's due date, assuming that your toddler is at least 18 months old, says Dr. Widome.
    — Laura Broadwell, Parents, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of assume
Verb
  • Fuji's imaging engine is built around its Film Simulation profiles, a broad set of looks that give JPG and HEIF pictures an analog-minded creative color grade.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Plus, picture yourself saving on high baggage fees, avoiding long waits to check or retrieve your bag, and keeping your hotel room free from unnecessary clutter throughout your trip.
    — Allison Palmer, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of picture
Verb
  • That is why seeing consensus first-round pick Omarion Hampton, widely considered the second-best running back in this year's class behind Ashton Jeanty, ranked as the seventh-best running back in the draft is a bit jarring.
    — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
  • But their final decision did not come without first considering the consequences.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of consider

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Cite this Entry

“Imagine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imagine. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on imagine

Nglish: Translation of imagine for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about imagine

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