Also spelled a-imitatin

US /ˈɪmɪteɪt/
verb Freq #14722

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    To copy the way someone speaks, behaves, or looks.

    The comedian could imitate the president's voice perfectly.

  2. 2
    verb

    To use someone or something as a model and try to be like it.

    Young children often imitate their parents' habits.

  3. 3
    verb

    To make a copy or close version of something.

    The cheap material was made to imitate real leather.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to copy the way someone... copymimicape
2 verb · to use someone or something... emulatemirror
Opposites
Word family
Forms imitatedimitatesimitating

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin imitātus, perfect active participle of imitor (“to copy, portray, imitate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French imiter.

View etymology graph ->

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