conceiveverb
uk/kənˈsiːv/us/kənˈsiːv/conceive verb (IMAGINE)
C2 [ I or T ] to imagine something:
I think my uncle still conceives of me as a four-year-old.
He couldn't conceive of a time when he would have no job.
[ + question word ] I can't conceive (= it is too shocking to imagine) how anyone could behave so cruelly.
[ + that ] I find it hard to conceive (= it is too shocking to imagine) that people are still treated so badly.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Imagining and conceiving
- a reach of the imagination idiom
- assume
- blue-sky
- conceivable
- conceptualize
- dream
- feel
- fertile
- fertility
- foundation
- grant
- look on/upon sb/sth as sth
- mind
- picture
- presumption
- put
- put yourself in sb's place/position/shoes idiom
- reckon
- riot
- suspicion
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conceive verb (INVENT)
C2 [ T ] to invent a plan or an idea:
He conceived the plot for this film while he was still a student.
The exhibition was conceived by the museum's director.
See also
concept
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Imagining and conceiving
- a reach of the imagination idiom
- assume
- blue-sky
- conceivable
- conceptualize
- dream
- feel
- fertile
- fertility
- foundation
- grant
- look on/upon sb/sth as sth
- mind
- picture
- presumption
- put
- put yourself in sb's place/position/shoes idiom
- reckon
- riot
- suspicion
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conceive verb (BECOME PREGNANT)
C2 [ I or T ] to become pregnant, or to cause a baby to begin to form:
Do you know exactly when you conceived?
The baby was conceived in March, so will be born in December.
See also
conception
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Obstetrics: pregnancy
- anti-choice
- artificial insemination
- backstreet abortion
- carry
- child
- ectopic pregnancy
- embryo
- embryonic
- expect
- family
- fruitful
- full-term
- have a bun in the oven idiom
- IVF
- late-term
- pro-choice
- pro-life
- surrogacy
- trimester
- trouble
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