conceive
gb/kənsˈiv/ us/kənsˈiv/
B2
English
~ 3600
kigondol, kitalál, teherbe esik, megfogan, felfog, elképzel
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to conceive [an idea/plan/project]
She conceived a brilliant plan to improve the company's image.
Zseniális tervet gondolt ki a cég megítélésének javítására.
It's hard to conceive how they survived in such harsh conditions.
Nehéz elképzelni, hogyan élték túl az ilyen zord körülményeket.
The architect conceived the building as a blend of modern and traditional styles.
He conceived the project after months of research.
Learner examples
I conceived a new way to save money.
Kitaláltam egy új módszert, amellyel pénzt lehet spórolni.
She conceived a plan to help the poor.
Kigondolt egy tervet a szegények megsegítésére.
He conceived the idea while walking.
We conceived a way to make the game better.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'conceive' with 'receive'; 'conceive' is about creating or imagining, not getting something from someone.
Meaning
Form an idea or plan
Collocations
conceive an idea
|conceive a plan
|conceive a project
|conceive a strategy
Synonyms
devise (Implies careful creation and planning of something, often more concrete.)
|
imagine (More general and can be about visualizing situations, not just creating plans.)
Antonyms
forget (To lose an idea from your mind, the opposite of forming one.)
|
ignore (To deliberately not think about or consider an idea.)
Themes
thinking
|creativity
|planning
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To think of a new idea or plan in your mind.
To think of or develop a particular idea, plan, or concept in the mind.
VERB
B2
2
teherbe esik
B1
megfogan
B2
Usage pattern:
to conceive [a child/baby]
They tried for years before she finally conceived.
Évekig próbálkoztak, mire végre teherbe esett.
She conceived their first child at the age of 30.
Első gyermekével harmincéves korában esett teherbe.
Some couples have difficulty conceiving naturally.
Learner examples
She conceived after two years of trying.
Két év próbálkozás után esett teherbe.
They want to conceive soon.
Szeretnék, ha hamarosan megfoganna a baba.
The woman conceived last summer.
It is hard for them to conceive.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'conceive' (to become pregnant) with 'give birth' (to deliver a baby). The two refer to different stages.
Meaning
Become pregnant
Collocations
conceive a child
|conceive naturally
|conceive through IVF
Synonyms
become pregnant (More common everyday phrase for this biological process.)
Antonyms
miscarry (Lose a pregnancy before the baby can be born.)
|
remain childless (Not becoming pregnant over time.)
Themes
family
|health
|biology
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a woman or female animal starts having a baby growing inside her body.
To become pregnant with a child or offspring.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to conceive [that/how/what]
I can't conceive how anyone could be so cruel.
Fel sem tudom fogni, hogyan lehet valaki ennyire kegyetlen.
She could hardly conceive that he was telling the truth.
Alig tudta felfogni, hogy igazat mond.
It's difficult to conceive the scale of the disaster.
Learner examples
I cannot conceive how he did it.
Nem tudom felfogni, hogyan csinálta.
She could not conceive that it was true.
Nem tudta felfogni, hogy igaz.
It is hard to conceive the size of the city.
He cannot conceive why they left.
Common mistake:
Learners might misuse 'conceive' in everyday 'understand' contexts where it sounds too formal or literary.
Meaning
Understand mentally
Collocations
conceive how
|conceive that
|can hardly conceive
Synonyms
comprehend (Neutral term for fully understanding something.)
|
grasp (Often implies effort in understanding.)
Antonyms
misunderstand (Fail to understand correctly.)
|
overlook (Fail to notice or think about something important.)
Themes
thinking
|understanding
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To understand something, especially something hard to believe or imagine.
To comprehend or grasp something mentally, often something complex or difficult.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conceive
IPA
GB/kənsˈiv/
US/kənsˈiv/
Syllables & stress
con - ceive (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ceive)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: conceive
- 3rd Person Singular: conceives
- Present Participle: conceiving
- Past: conceived
Word family
Forms
conceives
verb
conceiving
verb
conceived
verb
Core family
Related words
misconception
noun B2
misconceive
verb
Negative and opposite forms
inconceivable
adjective C1
inconceivably
adverb
Advanced or less common
preconception
noun C1
preconceived
adjective
Expressions
conceive of
1/kənsˈiv əv/
phrasal verb
Imagine as possible or real
To think that something is possible or can exist.
Examples
- I can't conceive of living anywhere else.
- She could not conceive of him lying to her.