# imagination

/ˌɪˌmædʒəˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /ɪmˌædʒɪnˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/imagination
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mental image-making

noun · CEFR B1

the ability to form pictures or ideas in your mind of things that are not there.

For teachers: the cognitive faculty of forming mental representations of objects or events that are not currently perceived by the senses.

- The book was so descriptive that it really captured my imagination.
- A child's imagination can transform a simple cardboard box into a sophisticated spacecraft or a medieval fortress within seconds.

Usage: uncountable in this general sense

### 2. creativity

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to think of new and interesting ideas.

For teachers: creative resourcefulness or the capacity for inventive thought.

- The architect showed great imagination in her design for the new library.
- Solving the energy crisis will require a combination of rigorous scientific data and bold political imagination.

### 3. false belief

noun · CEFR B2

something that you think is real but is actually only in your mind.

For teachers: the act of fantasising or the construction of false mental images, often contrasted with objective reality.

- There is no ghost in the attic; it is just your imagination.
- The patient's fears were dismissed as mere imagination until physical evidence of the condition finally emerged.

Usage: often used with 'only' or 'just'

## Examples

- The child has a very vivid imagination.
- Writing a fantasy novel requires a great deal of imagination to build a believable world from scratch.
- While the technical execution of the painting was flawless, the critic argued that it lacked the spark of imagination required to truly move the viewer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.