imitate
verb
transitive verb
Synonyms
- ape
- copy
- copycat
- emulate
- mime
- mimic
Example Sentences
Katie Wedell, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 The company’s popular Adamantine black mantel clocks used a patented celluloid veneer made to imitate wood grain, onyx or marble and glued to a wood case. oregonlive, 3 Jan. 2022 Life doesn't exactly imitate art for Paris Jackson these days. Brianne Tracy, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2022 The robot, which holds six balls in a revolving cartridge, could also imitate a quarterback’s style including the speed, arc and timing of a throw. Laura Stevens, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 The hyper-realistic then tries to imitate the British musician, showing her best, robotic dance moves. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2022 The shoulders, for example, imitate the shapes of snakes in relief while, on the edge of the garment, a colorful border is inspired by coral snakes. Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2022 America’s industrial-policy advocates see China as a technological juggernaut whose government direction the U.S. must imitate or become a declining power. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 In addition to generating tweets and blog posts and beginning to imitate conversation, systems built by labs like OpenAI can generate images. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
borrowed from Latin imitātus, past participle of imitārī "to follow as a pattern, copy," frequentative derivative of a presumed verb *imā- "make a copy," perhaps going back to Indo-European *h2im-, whence also Hittite hima-, himma- "substitute, replica, toy"
Note: Aside from Hittite, evidence for an etymon *h2im- is lacking. See also etymology and note at emulous.
1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
imitate
verb
imitate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- emulate
- copy
- mimic
- mock
- repeat
- mime
- ape
- copycat
- parody
- echo
- perform
- play
- caricature
- lampoon
- ditto
- impersonate
- burlesque
- travesty
- reecho
- pantomime
Synonyms & Similar Words
- parody
- mock
- mimic
- do
- emulate
- spoof
- caricature
- simulate
- send up
- reproduce
- perform
- burlesque
- play
- travesty
- replicate
- pretend
- ridicule
- satirize
- deride
- lampoon
- act
- copycat
- duplicate
- personate
- parrot
- enhance
- ape
- gibe
- feign
- exaggerate
- pasquinade
- jibe
- monkey
- embellish
- counterfeit
- elaborate
- dissemble
- impersonate
- mime
- fake
- amplify
- embroider
- stretch
- overstate
- sham
- magnify
- pantomime
- play up
- expand
- pad
- overdraw
- put on
- enlarge (on or upon)
- flesh (out)
Synonyms & Similar Words
- replicate
- reproduce
- copy
- render
- duplicate
- clone
- copycat
- simulate
- reconstruct
- mimic
- reduplicate
- counterfeit
- forge
- fake
- re-create
- rip off
- knock off
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- create
- originate
- invent
- imagine
- initiate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of imitate are ape, copy, mimic, and mock. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.
The words ape and imitate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.
The synonyms copy and imitate are sometimes interchangeable, but copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.
The words mimic and imitate can be used in similar contexts, but mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.
The meanings of mock and imitate largely overlap; however, mock usually implies imitation with derision.