imitate

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled a-imitatin

US /ˈɪmɪteɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #14722

Meanings

1

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

The comedian could imitate the president's voice perfectly.
2

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

Young children often imitate their parents' habits.
3

verb
To make a copy or close version of something.

The cheap material was made to imitate real leather.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to copy the way someone... copy mimic ape

2 verb · to use someone or something... emulate mirror

Opposites

create innovate

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.

*h₂eym- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# imitate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɪmɪteɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 14722

## Meanings
1. To copy the way someone speaks, behaves, or looks.
2. To use someone or something as a model and try to be like it.
3. To make a copy or close version of something.

## Examples
- The comedian could imitate the president's voice perfectly.
- Young children often imitate their parents' habits.
- The cheap material was made to imitate real leather.

## Antonyms
- create
- innovate

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂eym-

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

## AI Etymology
Imitate is borrowed from Latin imitātus, perfect active participle of imitor (“to copy, portray, imitate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French imiter. The historical line also includes *h₂eym- (Proto-Indo-European). In current use, the main senses are “To copy the way someone speaks, behaves, or looks” and “To use someone or something as a model and try to be like it”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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