Word
Definitions
01deceptive appearance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that looks or feels different from what it really is.
n. an instance of a sensory perception that causes a false interpretation of physical reality.
“The mirrors in the small hallway create the illusion of a much larger space.”
“The desert heat created a shimmering optical illusion on the horizon, making the dry road appear as though it were covered in water.”
Synonyms
02false belief
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a false idea or belief that you think is true.
n. a persistent false belief or misconception regarding a situation or person.
“He was under the illusion that the job would be easy, but it was very hard.”
“The administration maintained the illusion of progress despite mounting evidence that the project was failing to meet its primary objectives.”
Synonyms
03magician's trick
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Theater
n. a clever trick performed by a magician to surprise an audience.
n. a professional trick or effect performed by an entertainer to deceive the eyes of an audience.
“The magician performed a famous illusion where he appeared to float in the air.”
“The stage production relied on sophisticated lighting and hidden mirrors to execute the complex illusion of the protagonist vanishing mid-sentence.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “illusion” in context.
Verb
01. cherish the illusion
“For years, she cherished the illusion that her father would one day return for her.”
verb + noun
02. create the illusion
“The mirrors in the small hallway create the illusion of a much larger space.”
verb + noun
03. dispel the illusion
“The documentary was designed to dispel the illusion that the war was easily won.”
verb + noun
04. shatter the illusion
“The sudden arrival of the police shattered the illusion of safety in the neighborhood.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. grand illusion
“He lived under the grand illusion that he was the most important person in the company.”
adj + noun
06. optical illusion
“The painting uses an optical illusion to make the eyes seem to follow you around the room.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. illusion of control
“Many investors have an illusion of control over the market that does not actually exist.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. under the illusion
“I was under the illusion that the meeting had been canceled, so I stayed home.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“That familiar sea, its ships, dunes and village, all formed part of a great illusion of the past.” “By this point the Moon will be very low in the south-western sky, causing something known as the Moon illusion .” Etymology
From Old French illusion, from Latin illūsiō, from illūdere, from in- (“at, upon”) + lūdere (“to play, mock, trick”). Displaced native Old English dwimmer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/illusion
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0