imagine
gb/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/ us/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
A2
Anglais
~ 1300
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
A2
action
1
Form a mental image
To make a picture in your mind of something you cannot see now.
Schéma d’usage :
to imagine [something/someone]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'imagine' with 'think' when referring to opinions; 'imagine' focuses on creating a mental picture or scenario, not giving an opinion.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
ignore (To deliberately refuse to think about something.)
|
forget (To lose awareness or memory of something, the opposite of actively imagining.)
Collocations
imagine a world
|hard to imagine
|can’t imagine
|try to imagine
|just imagine
Thèmes
thinking
|creativity
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|education
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- 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.
Verbe
B1
action
2
Suppose without proof
To think that something is true, but without proof.
Schéma d’usage :
to imagine (that) [clause]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes add unnecessary 'about' after 'imagine' in this sense; correct is 'I imagine (that)...', not 'I imagine about...'.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
know (Having definite knowledge rather than making an assumption.)
Collocations
I imagine that
|one can imagine
|you would imagine
Thèmes
thinking
|opinions
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- I imagine he’s already left for the airport.
- You can imagine that she was very upset.
- I imagine it will rain later today.
- They imagined the meeting would be short, but it lasted hours.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I imagine she is at home now.
- He imagines it will snow tomorrow.
- I imagine they are tired after the trip.
- We imagine our teacher will be happy with our work.
Verbe
B1
action
3
Plan or expect as possible
To think about what might happen in the future and plan for it.
Schéma d’usage :
to imagine [doing something]
Synonymes
envision (Often used for planning and projecting future possibilities.)
|
anticipate (Focuses on expecting something to happen, possibly with preparation.)
Antonymes
doubt (To think that something is unlikely to happen.)
Collocations
imagine working here
|imagine living abroad
Thèmes
planning
|future
|core_vocabulary
|time
|daily_life
Exemples
- I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
- She imagined starting her own business one day.
- Imagine traveling the world with no schedule.
- They imagined moving to a bigger city after graduation.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I imagine working in a big office.
- She imagines living in Japan.
- We imagine visiting many countries next year.
- He imagines being a famous singer.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
imagine
API
GB/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
US/ɪmˈæd͡ʒən/
Syllabes et accentuation
ima - gine (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (gine)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: imagine
- 3rd Person Singular: imagines
- Present Participle: imagining
- Past: imagined
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- Just imagine how beautiful it will be in spring.
- Just imagine winning the lottery!