imagination
The ability to create pictures or ideas in your mind that are not real or not happening now.
The faculty of forming new ideas, images, or concepts in the mind that are not directly perceived through the senses.
The act of making up new ideas or stories in your mind.
The act of creating mental ideas, stories, or concepts beyond what is currently known or real.
The ability to find new ways to solve problems using original ideas.
The ability to think of new and clever ways to solve problems or deal with situations.
- Base: imagination
- Plural: imagination, imaginations
a flight of imagination
1Fanciful mental creation
An idea that is very creative but not realistic.
- His plan was dismissed as a flight of imagination.
- The novel is full of flights of imagination.
beyond imagination
1Too much to imagine
Too big, great, or strange to think about clearly.
- The beauty of the mountains was beyond imagination.
- The damage was beyond imagination.
stretch the imagination
1Challenge mental limits
Make someone think about things in a new or hard way.
- This story really stretches the imagination.
- It stretches the imagination to believe his tale.
use your imagination
1Employ mental creativity
Think of new ideas or pictures in your mind.
- If you can't see it, just use your imagination.
- Use your imagination to picture the scene.
capture the imagination
1To fascinate and inspire creativity
To make someone very interested and full of new ideas.
- The book captured the imagination of young readers.
- The story captured the imagination of children around the world.
- Space travel has always captured the imagination of scientists.
- Her performance captured the audience's imagination.