imagine
Can you imagine living on Mars?
The speaker asks if the listener can form a mental picture of the scenario.
To form a mental image or concept of something not present to the senses.
She tried to imagine the house as it was in the 1920s.
She attempted to mentally recreate the house's appearance from the past.
Imagine a world without poverty.
Picture a hypothetical scenario where poverty does not exist.
Often used to suggest hypothetical or creative scenarios.
To suppose or assume something to be the case.
I imagine he'll be late again.
I assume or expect that he will be late.
You can imagine how surprised I was.
You can understand how surprised I was.
Used to express an assumption or expectation.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use with 'if' for hypotheticals
Combine 'imagine' with 'if' to create vivid hypothetical scenarios: 'Imagine if we could travel to the moon every weekend.'
Gold Rule
Avoid overusing 'imagine'
While useful for creativity, excessive use can sound clichéd. Vary with synonyms like 'envision' or 'picture' in writing.
Word Origin
From Middle English *imagen*, from Old French *imaginer*, from Latin *imāginārī* (to form an image of, to picture to oneself), from *imāgō* (image, likeness).
Usage Notes
The verb can be used in both literal (forming a mental image) and figurative (supposing) senses. The stress is on the second syllable in American English (/ɪˈmædʒɪn/) and the first in British English (/ɪˈmædʒɪn/ or /ˈɪmədʒɪn/).