imitate Definition
imi·tate (im′i tāt′)
transitive verb -·tat′ed, -·tat′·ing
- to seek to follow the example of; take as one's model or pattern
- to act the same as; impersonate; mimic
- to reproduce in form, color, etc.; make a duplicate or copy of
- to be or become like in appearance; resemble glass made to imitate diamonds
Etymology: < L imitatus, pp. of imitari, to imitate, akin to aemulus: see emulate
imitate Related Forms
imitate Synonyms
imitate
v.
To follow the example of
emulate, follow suit, do likewise, take as a model; see follow 2.To act like
mimic, impersonate, mirror, copy, mime, ape, parrot, parody, mock, simulate, duplicate, assume, repeat, echo, reecho, reflect, pretend, play a part, personate, do like*, make like*, take off*, put on*; see also parody.To copy
duplicate, counterfeit, fake; see copy 2, reproduce 1.To resemble
imitate implies the following of something as an example or model but does not necessarily connote exact correspondence with the original the child imitates her father's mannerisms; copy implies as nearly exact imitation or reproduction as is possible to copy a painting; mimic suggests close imitation, often in fun or ridicule to mimic the speech peculiarities of another; mock implies imitation with the intent to deride or affront he mocked the teacher's gesture of rebuke; ape implies close imitation either in mimicry or in servile emulation she aped the fashions of the court ladies
imitate Usage Examples
Object
- gesture: The studies often involve giving them a task, or asking them to imitate a gesture.
- accent: And I opened it and he's standing there ( imitating breathless Japanese accent ) ' Tom Verlaine!
- behavior: How to imitate the behavior of buttons in a Selection Box?
- sound: Use a diver duck call to imitate the sounds of these species.
- art: Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
- behavior: We will continue to imitate the behavior of the operating system windows.
Subject
- other: He was also interested in the way that shapes and patterns from one factory were copied and imitated by others.
- instrument: The second movement presents a simple melody imitated by other instruments.
Noun phrase with adjective complement
such: The erhu sounds similar to human voice, and can imitate many natural sounds such as birds and horse.
Modifying Another Word
- consciously: I seem to remember consciously imitating how its source singer sang it.
- merely: Sun Spa produces its own branded products to its own high quality designs using its own team of designers - others merely imitate.
- widely: Japanese prints were very much admired and were very widely imitated.
- closely: The hypocritical prayer closely imitates the conduct of real prayers.
- often: Often imitated, never bettered - The Birthday Party.
- successfully: All stages can be imitated successfully by the fly dresser.
Used with why or when
- what: Why should we imitate what a Prophet did more than a thousand years ago?
- when: Baby will watch and in time imitate when learning has taken place.
- which: It is humans ' ability to imitate which allows them to acquire culture in this way.
Preposition: by
- other: He was also interested in the way that shapes and patterns from one factory were copied and imitated by others.
- instrument: The second movement presents a simple melody imitated by other instruments.
Browse dictionary entries near imitate
- imitated ›
- imitating ›
- imitation ›
- imitative ›
- imitator ›
- immaculate ›
- Immaculate Conception ›
- immane ›
- immanent ›
- immanentism ›
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