imagine
/i'mædʤin/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To form a mental image or concept of something not present to the senses: To create a picture or idea in your mind of something that is not real, not currently happening, or that you have not experienced directly.
- To suppose or assume; to believe something to be the case, often without firm evidence: To think that something is probable or true.
Usage
- The verb "imagine" is used to describe the act of creating ideas or pictures in your mind. It is often followed by a noun, a gerund (verb+ing), or a clause starting with "that" (which can be omitted).
- It is commonly used in both positive and negative contexts (e.g., "I can imagine..." or "I can't imagine...").
Examples
- Forming a mental image:
- Close your eyes and imagine a peaceful beach.
- She imagined herself winning the award.
- Supposing or believing:
- I imagine he will be late again.
- "Is she coming?" "I imagine so."
Advanced Usage
- "Imagine that!": An exclamation of surprise or disbelief about a situation.
- He's never been on a plane before. Imagine that!
- "Just imagine...": Used to introduce a hypothetical scenario for consideration.
- Just imagine if we could travel anywhere instantly.
Variants and Related Words
- Imagination (n): The faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.
- Children have vivid imaginations.
- Imaginative (adj): Having or showing creativity or inventiveness.
- She is a very imaginative writer.
- Imaginary (adj): Existing only in the imagination.
- The story is set in an imaginary world.
Synonyms
- Envision: To picture mentally, especially future possibilities.
- Visualize: To form a mental image of something.
- Suppose: To assume something is the case, often temporarily.
- Conceive: To form or devise a plan or idea in the mind.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Imagine" does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically contained within the single word.)
Related Idioms
- "You can't imagine...": Used to emphasize that something is extremely good, bad, surprising, etc.
- You can't imagine how happy I was to see her.
- "In your imagination": Used to suggest that something someone believes or describes is not real.
- That success exists only in your imagination.
Verb
- expect, believe, or suppose
- I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
- I thought to find her in a bad state
- he didn't think to find her in the kitchen
- I guess she is angry at me for standing her up
- form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
- Can you conceive of him as the president?