ENGLISH
REFERENCE

imaginative

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv// UK //ɪmˈædʒɪnətˌɪv// imag·i·na·tive

adj. having or showing new and exciting ideas. You use this to describe someone who is good at thinking of things that do not exist yet.

adj. having or showing creativity or the ability to conceive of new and original ideas. Often used to describe artistic works or problem-solving approaches.


SIMPLE

She wrote an imaginative story about a talking cat.

CONTEXTUAL

The architect's imaginative use of glass and light transformed the dark basement into a bright studio.

COMPLEX

While the plot follows a familiar structure, the author's imaginative world-building elevates the novel above typical genre tropes, creating a truly immersive experience for the reader.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English ymagynatif, from Middle French imaginatif, from Medieval Latin imāginātīvus. By surface analysis, imagine + -ative.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'become'.

Pitfall

He is very imaginary.He is very imaginative.Learners often confuse 'imaginative' (having a good imagination) with 'imaginary' (not real; existing only in the mind).

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