conceive
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to think of a new idea or plan.
to form or devise a plan or idea in the mind. Often used in professional or creative contexts.
Simple“The architect helped conceive the original design for the new library.”
In context“The research team struggled to conceive a methodology that would satisfy the rigorous requirements of the grant committee.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice when discussing the origins of projects.
- 02 C1 Advanced
to imagine something or believe it is possible.
to form a mental representation of something; to grasp a concept through imagination.
Simple“It is hard to conceive of a world without the internet.”
In context“Ancient philosophers could hardly have conceived of a universe governed by the laws of quantum mechanics.”
UsageFrequently takes the preposition 'of' when used to mean 'imagine'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
to become pregnant with a baby.
to become pregnant with offspring; to begin the growth of an embryo within the womb.
Simple“The couple had been trying to conceive for several years.”
In context“Medical advancements have made it possible for many individuals who previously struggled with fertility to successfully conceive.”
Synonymsbecome pregnant
Usage originally conceive
“It’s possible to conceive of Mine as a hallucinatory work of both environmental and social history.”
“Conceived in 1979, it gave users topic-based newsgroups and a culture of distributed discussion that made online information feel social and communal before the first major web engines arrived.”
From Middle English conceyven, from Old French concevoir, conceveir, from Latin concipiō, concipere (“to devise, to conceive”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.