Word
impersonate
Phoneticsim·per·son·ate, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪmˈpɝsəˌneɪt/
UK/ɪmpˈɜːsənˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to pretend to be someone else, like a famous person or a character. You do this to make people think you are that person for a short time.
v. to represent or portray a person or character; to mimic the appearance, voice, or mannerisms of another. Often used in the context of performance or digital security breaches.
Examples
“He can impersonate his favorite actor very well.”
“The comedian spent years practicing how to impersonate the president's voice for the show.”
“In the digital realm, sophisticated malware can impersonate legitimate software to trick users into surrendering their login credentials without realizing the deception.”
Examples
simple
“He can impersonate his favorite actor very well.”
contextual
“The comedian spent years practicing how to impersonate the president's voice for the show.”
complex
“In the digital realm, sophisticated malware can impersonate legitimate software to trick users into surrendering their login credentials without realizing the deception.”
Real-World Examples
“Prime Minister Andy Burnham messaged briefly with a person impersonating Susie Wiles, a British government official said.” “Scammers can use this technology to impersonate family members, co-workers or celebrities.” “There is nothing a user can communicate to an attacker that would allow them to remotely impersonate the user.” Etymology
From im- + person (verb-forming suffix) + -ate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/impersonate