imagination
gb/ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/ us/ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
property
1
Ability to form mental images
The ability to create pictures or ideas in your mind that are not real or not happening now.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [adjective] imagination
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'imagination' with 'imaginary'. 'Imagination' is the ability; 'imaginary' describes something unreal.
Synonyms
creativity (Focuses on producing original and valuable ideas, often in art or problem-solving.)
|
fantasy (Emphasizes imagined scenarios that are often unrealistic or magical.)
Antonyms
literalness (Focuses only on what is actually present or factual, without inventing ideas.)
|
reality (Refers to actual events and facts, as opposed to imagined ones.)
Collocations
vivid imagination
|wild imagination
|use your imagination
|spark imagination
|capture the imagination
Themes
creativity
|emotions
|art
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her vivid imagination helped her write wonderful stories.
- You need a bit of imagination to see how this old building could become a home.
- Children often have a wild imagination.
Learner examples
- I have a big imagination.
- He uses his imagination in art class.
- The story came from her imagination.
Noun
B2
action
2
Creative invention of ideas
The act of making up new ideas or stories in your mind.
Usage pattern:
through [someone]'s imagination
Synonyms
invention (Highlights the creation of something new, either in thought or physically.)
Antonyms
fact (Something that is true and can be proven, not made up.)
Collocations
flight of imagination
|product of the imagination
|work of the imagination
Themes
art
|creativity
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The movie was a pure product of his imagination.
- Her paintings are works of the imagination.
- The idea came entirely from my imagination.
Learner examples
- The story is from my imagination.
- Her song is from her imagination.
- The game was made by our imagination.
Noun
B2
property
3
Creative problem-solving ability
The ability to find new ways to solve problems using original ideas.
Usage pattern:
[someone] shows imagination in [activity]
Synonyms
ingenuity (Stresses cleverness and skill in creating solutions.)
Antonyms
unimaginativeness (Lack of creativity or originality in thinking.)
Collocations
show imagination
|demonstrate imagination
|lack imagination
Themes
business
|innovation
|work
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She showed great imagination in designing the new product.
- His solution lacked any imagination.
- We need more imagination to solve this crisis.
Learner examples
- He had imagination in his work.
- She used imagination to fix the problem.
- They show imagination in the game.
Grammar
Dictionary form
imagination
IPA
GB/ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
US/ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
ima - gin - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 4th syllable (tion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: imagination
- Plural: imagination, imaginations
Word family
Forms
imaginations
noun
Core family
Related words
imaginable
adjective
imaginatively
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unimaginable
adjective C1
unimaginative
adjective
Advanced or less common
reimagine
verb
Expressions
a flight of imagination
1/ə flˈaɪt əv ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Fanciful mental creation
An idea that is very creative but not realistic.
Examples
- His plan was dismissed as a flight of imagination.
- The novel is full of flights of imagination.
beyond imagination
1/bɪjˈɔnd ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Too much to imagine
Too big, great, or strange to think about clearly.
Examples
- The beauty of the mountains was beyond imagination.
- The damage was beyond imagination.
stretch the imagination
1/stɹˈɛt͡ʃ ðə ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Challenge mental limits
Make someone think about things in a new or hard way.
Examples
- This story really stretches the imagination.
- It stretches the imagination to believe his tale.
use your imagination
1/jˈuz jˈʊɹ ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Employ mental creativity
Think of new ideas or pictures in your mind.
Examples
- If you can't see it, just use your imagination.
- Use your imagination to picture the scene.
capture the imagination
1/kˈæpt͡ʃɚ ðə ɪmˌæd͡ʒɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
To fascinate and inspire creativity
To make someone very interested and full of new ideas.
Examples
- 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.