confabulate
gb/kˈɑnfəbjəlˌeɪt/ us/kˈɑnfəbjəlˌeɪt/
C1
English
elbeszélget, cseveg, konfabulál, kitalál, kohol
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
1
elbeszélget
B1
cseveg
B1
Usage pattern:
confabulate (with [someone]) (about [something])
We confabulated for a while after the lecture and swapped book recommendations.
Az előadás után még elbeszélgettünk egy darabig, és könyvajánlásokat cseréltünk.
The two managers stepped aside to confabulate about the schedule.
A két vezető félrevonult, hogy beszéljenek egy kicsit a beosztásról.
I ran into Maya at the café and we confabulated about the trip.
Learner examples
We confabulated for ten minutes.
Tíz percig elbeszélgettünk.
She confabulated with her friend after class.
Óra után elbeszélgetett a barátnőjével.
Common mistake:
Often confused with formal words like confer; confabulate usually means an informal chat.
Meaning
chat or talk together
Collocations
confabulate with colleagues
|confabulate with friends
|confabulate briefly
|confabulate for a few minutes
|confabulate over coffee
|confabulate about the plan
|confabulate after the meeting
|confabulate in the hallway
|confabulate on the phone
Synonyms
chat (More common and neutral.)
|
talk (Broader; not necessarily informal.)
|
confer (Usually more formal and task-focused.)
Antonyms
remain silent (Not speaking at all.)
|
keep quiet (Choosing not to talk.)
Themes
conversation
|social_life
|workplace
Definition
to talk with someone in a relaxed way
To talk informally with someone; to have a chat.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
2
konfabulál
C2
Usage pattern:
[someone] confabulate(s) [details/memories/events]
After the accident, he would confabulate details of his day that never happened.
A baleset után a napjáról olyan részleteket konfabulált, amelyek valójában meg sem történtek.
Some patients with Korsakoff syndrome confabulate to fill gaps in their memory.
Egyes Korszakov-szindrómás betegek azért konfabulálnak, hogy kitöltsék emlékezetük hiányait.
When asked where she’d been, she confabulated an explanation without realizing it was false.
Learner examples
After his injury, he sometimes confabulated memories.
A sérülése után néha hamis emlékeket konfabulált.
She confabulated details because she could not remember.
Részleteket konfabulált, mert nem emlékezett.
Common mistake:
This is usually unintentional; it does not necessarily mean the person is lying.
Meaning
fill memory gaps with false details
Collocations
confabulate memories
|confabulate details
|confabulate events
|confabulate explanations
|patients confabulate
|tendency to confabulate
|confabulate stories
|confabulate after brain injury
|confabulate about recent events
|confabulate during an interview
Synonyms
misremember (General; does not specifically imply filling gaps with invented details.)
|
fabricate (Often implies intention; confabulate is typically unintentional in this sense.)
Antonyms
remember accurately (Recalling information correctly.)
|
recount faithfully (Describing events without distortion.)
Themes
health
|psychology
|medicine
|memory
Definition
to say things that are not true because you misremember, not to lie on purpose
To produce false or distorted memories or explanations, typically without intending to deceive, especially as a symptom of a neurological or psychiatric condition.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
confabulate [a story/excuse/detail]
The report accused the witness of confabulating key details.
A jelentés azzal vádolta a tanút, hogy kulcsfontosságú részleteket talált ki.
He confabulated an excuse for missing the deadline.
Kitalált egy kifogást arra, hogy miért nem tartotta a határidőt.
Several parts of the story appeared to be confabulated rather than documented.
Learner examples
He confabulated an excuse.
Kitalált egy kifogást.
Don’t confabulate details.
Ne találj ki részleteket.
Common mistake:
In careful writing, this can be confused with the technical sense (unintentional false memory). Context usually signals whether it implies intention.
Meaning
invent or make up a story
Collocations
confabulate an excuse
|confabulate a story
|confabulate an answer
|confabulate details
|confabulate a reason
|confabulate a quote
|confabulate an account
|confabulate evidence
Synonyms
invent (Neutral; may not imply wrongdoing.)
|
concoct (Often implies a deliberately made-up story or plan.)
|
fabricate (Common in accusations; strongly suggests deliberate falsity.)
Antonyms
verify (Check and confirm what is true.)
|
substantiate (Support a claim with evidence.)
Themes
communication
|truth
|media
Definition
to make something up (sometimes to trick people)
To invent or make up a story, detail, or answer, sometimes suggesting deception or careless inaccuracy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
confabulate
IPA
GB/kˈɑnfəbjəlˌeɪt/
US/kˈɑnfəbjəlˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
con - fab - u - late (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (con)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: confabulate
- 3rd Person Singular: confabulates
- Present Participle: confabulating
- Past: confabulated
- Past Participle: confabulated
Word family
Forms
confabulates
verb
confabulating
verb
confabulated
verb
Core family
confabulation
noun C1
Related words
confab
noun
Advanced or less common
confabulator
noun
confabulatory
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.