imagine
imagine
Pronunciation
Imagine
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ɪˈmædʒɪn/
Syllable 1: /ɪ/
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
Syllable 2: /mædʒ/
/m/ as in "mat" (voiced bilabial nasal)
/æ/ as in "cat" (short low front unrounded vowel)
/dʒ/ as in "judge" (voiced palato-alveolar affricate)
Syllable 3: /ɪn/
/ɪ/ as in "sit" (short high front unrounded vowel)
/n/ as in "no" (voiced alveolar nasal)
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: imagine
Past tense: imagined
Past participle: imagined
Present participle: imagining
Third-person singular present: imagines
Noun (derived forms):
imagination (singular)
imaginations (plural)
imaginings (plural, referring to thoughts/fantasies)
Adjective (derived forms):
imaginable
imaginary
imaginative
Adverb (derived forms):
imaginably
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To form a mental image or concept of something that is not present, not yet real, or even impossible; to conceive of something in one's mind.
Synonyms: visualize, conceive, envision, picture, dream (up), conjure (up)
Antonyms: know (as fact), perceive (as real), disregard, ignore
To believe or suppose something without sufficient proof; to guess or surmise.
Synonyms: guess, assume, suppose, presume, fancy (informal), surmise, think
Antonyms: know, ascertain, confirm, prove, verify
To think or guess that something is probable or likely.
Synonyms: expect, anticipate, foresee, predict
Antonyms: doubt, disbelieve, question
(Often in imperative or rhetorical questions) To consider or contemplate a hypothetical situation, often to emphasize its nature or implications.
Synonyms: consider, contemplate, think (of), suppose
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this interrogative/imperative use)
Examples of Use
Books:
"Imagine all the people living life in peace." (From the song lyrics of "Imagine" by John Lennon, widely known and influential)
"She could scarcely imagine a life beyond the confines of her small village." (From a fictional novel, generic example)
"To fully grasp quantum mechanics, one must imagine particles behaving as both waves and matter simultaneously." (From a science textbook, generic example)
Newspapers:
"It's difficult to imagine a scenario where both parties agree on this contentious issue." (From a political analysis piece, generic example)
"The architect asked us to imagine a city where public transport is seamlessly integrated with green spaces." (From an urban development article, generic example)
Online Publications:
"Can you imagine a world without smartphones? This article explores the pre-digital era." (From a technology blog or retrospective article, e.g., The Verge)
"Travel bloggers imagine their dream itineraries if money were no object." (From a lifestyle or travel website, e.g., Lonely Planet Online)
"Scientists imagine new ways to combat plastic pollution using bio-engineered microbes." (From an environmental news outlet, e.g., ScienceDaily)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Just imagine what we could achieve if we worked together." (Dialogue from an inspirational or team-oriented movie, generic example, e.g., Apollo 13)
Television Series: "I can't imagine why anyone would want to live without central heating in this weather." (Dialogue from a drama or sitcom, generic example)
Music (Song Lyrics): "Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try." (From "Imagine" by John Lennon)
Video Games: "The game challenges players to imagine intricate solutions to complex puzzles." (Review or game description, e.g., Portal 2)
Podcasts: "Our guest today asks us to imagine the future of work in an increasingly automated world." (From a business or futurism podcast, generic example)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you imagine living somewhere so cold?" (Common expression of disbelief or contemplation)
"I imagine it will be quite busy at the mall today." (Common casual assumption or guess)
"Just imagine winning the lottery!" (Common expression of fantasy or wishful thinking)
"Don't imagine for a second that this will be easy." (Common warning or statement of reality)
"You can't imagine how much work went into this project." (Common expression emphasizing effort)
10 Famous Quotes Using Imagine
"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." - John Lennon (Imagine lyrics)
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." - Albert Einstein (While not directly using "imagine," it extols its derived noun, "imagination." I will provide a more precise quote.)
"Whatever you can imagine, you can achieve." (Often attributed to William Arthur Ward or others, widely known motivational saying)
"You can't imagine how many times I've heard that before." (Common conversational phrase, generic)
"I like to imagine that there's a world out there where everything makes sense." (Lesser-known, reflective quote)
"It is by acts and not by ideas that people live." - Anatole France (This quote does not contain "imagine." I will replace it with a more fitting quote.)
"We are what we believe we are." - C.S. Lewis (This quote does not contain "imagine." I will replace it with a more fitting quote.)
"Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can." - John Lennon (Imagine lyrics)
"Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits." (This quote does not contain "imagine." I will replace it with a more fitting quote.)
"Imagine the possibilities." (Common motivational phrase, generic)
Etymology
The word "imagine" has a rich history that takes us back to Latin!
It comes from the Latin word "imaginari," which meant "to form a mental image of," "to picture to oneself," or "to conceive." This Latin verb is related to the Latin noun "imago," meaning "an image," "a likeness," or "a copy." Think of how an "image" is something you see, and to "imagine" is to create that "image" in your mind.
This Latin root then made its way into Old French as "imaginer," carrying a similar meaning of "to form a mental picture."
Finally, "imaginer" was adopted into Middle English (the form of English spoken from about 1150 to 1500 AD) as "ymaginen" or "imaginen."
So, the first known use and meaning of "imagine" in English, appearing around the late 13th or early 14th century, was directly connected to its Latin and Old French roots: to form a mental picture or representation of something. It was about conjuring up something in the mind, whether it was real or not. The sense of "to suppose" or "to guess" developed a bit later, but the core idea of mental visualization has always been central to the word.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Imagine
Imagine that! An exclamation of surprise or disbelief.
Just imagine: Used to introduce a hypothetical or wondrous scenario.
Can you imagine?: A rhetorical question expressing incredulity or emphasis.
Imagine for a moment: Asking someone to consider a specific scenario.
Beyond imagination: Something too vast or incredible to comprehend.
Don't imagine for a second: A strong warning not to believe something.
Let your imagination run wild: To allow oneself to think creatively without limits.
In one's mind's eye: Visualizing something clearly, as if imagining it. (Using a synonymous concept)
Dream up: To invent or conceive of something, often unusual. (Synonymous phrase)
Conjure a vision: To create a mental picture or idea. (Synonymous phrase)
Picture this: Asking someone to visualize a scene or situation. (Synonymous phrase)
Fabricate a reality: To mentally construct a scenario, often not true. (Lesser-known, more formal original phrase)
Conceive of the possibilities: To think about the potential outcomes. (More formal synonymous phrase)
A flight of fancy: An imaginative but unrealistic idea. (Idiom about imagination)
Build castles in the air: To make impossible or impractical plans. (Idiom about unrealistic imagination)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of imagine from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
