Imagining: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone is forming a mental image or idea of something.

• She is imagining what her new house will look like

Applied in situations where there's a more complex or abstract creation of ideas or plans.

• The scientist conceived a new theory about space

Commonly used in contexts of planning or predicting future events or scenarios.

• He envisions a future where cars can fly

Used when you are forming a picture or idea in your mind about something that is not present or not real.

• She spent the afternoon imagining what her new house would look like

Used when talking about aspirations or subconscious visions occurring during sleep. It can be both literal or metaphorical.

• She dreams of becoming a doctor someday
• / I had a strange dream last night about flying

Used when someone is indulging in elaborate daydreams or creating unrealistic and often whimsical scenarios in their mind, typically with an element of escapism.

• He likes to fantasize about living on a tropical island

Used when expressing a desire or hope for something to happen or to be the case, often feeling more tangible compared to mere imagination.

• I wish I could travel more
• / She wishes for good health and happiness

Used in a negative context when someone is making themselves believe something that is not true, often leading to deception.

• He tried to delude himself into thinking he could win the lottery without buying a ticket

Used when someone is thinking of something that is not real or not present, often involving creativity or dreams.

• She spent the afternoon imagining herself as a famous artist
• He's always imagining what it would be like to travel to other planets

Used generally when someone is acting as if something is true when it is not, often involving children or playful scenarios, but it can also imply deception.

• The kids pretended they were astronauts exploring the moon
• She pretended to be happy, even though she was sad

Used when someone is pretending to be something they are not, often in a theatrical or exaggerated manner.

• He loved to play-act as a detective, searching for clues around the house
• During the play, the actors did an excellent job play-acting their roles

Used to describe activities or situations that involve pretending or playing, often among children or in creative storytelling.

• The children were engaged in make-believe games, pretending to be pirates
• In her make-believe world, she was the queen of a distant land

Used when someone is pretending to have a particular feeling, condition, or injury, often to deceive others. This word has a negative connotation.

• He would feign illness to avoid going to school
• She feigned surprise when she heard the news, although she already knew

Used in contexts where someone is imitating or replicating conditions, often for experimental or training purposes.

• Pilots use flight simulators to train for emergency situations
• The scientists developed a program to simulate the effects of climate change