imagine
gb/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/ us/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
A2
English
~ 1300
elképzel, gondol, feltételez
VERB
A2
1
elképzel
A2
Usage pattern:
to imagine [something/someone]
I can imagine the view from the top of the mountain.
She tried to imagine life without the internet.
Imagine your favorite meal—can you smell it?
It’s hard to imagine him being so careless.
He imagined a big house by the sea.
Learner examples
I imagine my home in the future.
She imagines a big party for her birthday.
Can you imagine a world without cars?
He imagines his team winning the game.
I cannot imagine living in another country.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'imagine' with 'think' when referring to opinions; 'imagine' focuses on creating a mental picture or scenario, not giving an opinion.
Meaning
Form a mental image
Collocations
imagine a world
|hard to imagine
|can’t imagine
|try to imagine
|just imagine
Synonyms
visualize (Often emphasizes creating a clear mental picture, sometimes with focus on detail or clarity.)
|
envision (Slightly more formal; often used for imagining future possibilities or plans.)
Antonyms
ignore (To deliberately refuse to think about something.)
|
forget (To lose awareness or memory of something, the opposite of actively imagining.)
Themes
thinking
|creativity
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|education
Definition
To make a picture in your mind of something you cannot see now.
To create a picture or idea in your mind of something that is not physically present or real.
VERB
B1
2
gondol
A2
feltételez
B2
Usage pattern:
to imagine (that) [clause]
I imagine he’s already left for the airport.
Gondolom, már elindult a repülőtérre.
You can imagine that she was very upset.
Gondolhatod, hogy nagyon feldúlt volt.
I imagine it will rain later today.
They imagined the meeting would be short, but it lasted hours.
Learner examples
I imagine she is at home now.
Gondolom, most otthon van.
He imagines it will snow tomorrow.
Azt gondolja, hogy holnap havazni fog.
I imagine they are tired after the trip.
We imagine our teacher will be happy with our work.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add unnecessary 'about' after 'imagine' in this sense; correct is 'I imagine (that)...', not 'I imagine about...'.
Meaning
Suppose without proof
Collocations
I imagine that
|one can imagine
|you would imagine
Synonyms
suppose (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable, though 'suppose' can sound more tentative.)
|
assume (Implies taking something as true without checking; can be more formal.)
Antonyms
know (Having definite knowledge rather than making an assumption.)
Themes
thinking
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To think that something is true, but without proof.
To believe or assume something is true without needing evidence, often as a guess or opinion.
VERB
B1
3
elképzel
B1
Usage pattern:
to imagine [doing something]
I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
El sem tudom képzelni, hogy máshol éljek.
She imagined starting her own business one day.
Elképzelte, hogy egy nap saját vállalkozást indít.
Imagine traveling the world with no schedule.
They imagined moving to a bigger city after graduation.
Learner examples
I imagine working in a big office.
El tudom képzelni, hogy egy nagy irodában dolgozom.
She imagines living in Japan.
Elképzeli, hogy Japánban él.
We imagine visiting many countries next year.
He imagines being a famous singer.
Meaning
Plan or expect as possible
Collocations
imagine working here
|imagine living abroad
Synonyms
envision (Often used for planning and projecting future possibilities.)
|
anticipate (Focuses on expecting something to happen, possibly with preparation.)
Antonyms
doubt (To think that something is unlikely to happen.)
Themes
planning
|future
|core_vocabulary
|time
|daily_life
Definition
To think about what might happen in the future and plan for it.
To think about something you might do or that might happen in the future, as part of planning or expectation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
imagine
IPA
GB/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
US/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
Syllables & stress
ima - gine (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (gine)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: imagine
- 3rd Person Singular: imagines
- Present Participle: imagining
- Past: imagined
Word family
Forms
imagines
verb
imagining
verb
imagined
verb
Core family
Related words
imaginable
adjective
imaginatively
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unimaginable
adjective C1
unimaginative
adjective
Advanced or less common
imaginativeness
noun
unimaginably
adverb C1
Expressions
can’t imagine
1/kˈænt ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
Unable to conceive mentally
Not able to think how something could be possible or real.
Examples
- I can’t imagine living without music.
- She can’t imagine why he would say that.
imagine that!
1/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən ðˈæt ‖/
fixed phrase
informal
Express surprise at news
Say this when you are surprised about something you just learned.
Examples
- He won the contest—imagine that!
- She’s moving to Paris—imagine that!
just imagine
1/d͡ʒˈʌst ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
Think vividly about a scenario
Think strongly about what something would be like.
Examples
- Just imagine how beautiful it will be in spring.
- Just imagine winning the lottery!