Word
imitate
Phoneticsim·i·tate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪməˌteɪt/
UK/ˈɪmɪtˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to copy the way someone speaks, moves, or behaves. You often do this to be funny or to learn a new skill.
v. to copy or mimic the actions, appearance, or speech of another. Often implies a conscious effort to reproduce specific characteristics for entertainment or instruction.
Examples
“He likes to imitate his favorite movie stars.”
“Young children often imitate their parents' behavior as a way of learning how to interact with the world.”
“The comedian's ability to imitate the subtle vocal inflections of political leaders made his satire particularly effective and popular with audiences.”
Examples
simple
“He likes to imitate his favorite movie stars.”
contextual
“Young children often imitate their parents' behavior as a way of learning how to interact with the world.”
complex
“The comedian's ability to imitate the subtle vocal inflections of political leaders made his satire particularly effective and popular with audiences.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Pitfall
He imitated to his teacher
He imitated his teacher
Imitate is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.
Real-World Examples
“The mood in the garden livens up when the friends imitate accents, especially those from Texas and the southern United States.” “The young bird imitates and learns to vocalize a song that combines the family song with the population’s song.” “But, while the court ladies and townswomen imitated their stylish ways, men were more interested in their bodies.” “When the Onion imitates real life, it's usually tragic .” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin imitātus, perfect active participle of imitor (“to copy, portray, imitate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French imiter.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- 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 Intermediate
- Updated
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