Word
mimic
Phoneticsmim·ic, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɪmɪk/
UK/mˈɪmɪk/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
mimic
Past
mimicked
Past participle
mimicked
Definitions
01to copy behavior or speech
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to copy the way someone talks, moves, or behaves, often to make people laugh.
v. to imitate the voice, gestures, or mannerisms of another, frequently for the purpose of ridicule or entertainment.
日本語:まねる※
“The comedian could mimic the president's voice perfectly, making the whole audience laugh.”
“The satirist spent years learning to mimic the subtle inflections of the aristocracy to sharpen the bite of his social commentary.”
02to look like something else
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
v. to look or act like something else in order to stay safe or hide.
v. to evolve or assume a resemblance to another organism or an inanimate object, typically for protection or camouflage.
“Some harmless snakes mimic the colors of poisonous ones to scare away predators.”
“The insect has evolved to mimic a dead leaf, allowing it to remain undetected by birds while resting on the forest floor.”
03a person who imitates
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is very good at copying others.
n. a person, such as an actor or performer, who is skilled at imitating others.
“She is a talented mimic who can do over twenty different accents.”
“As a natural mimic, he found it easy to blend into different social circles by adopting the local dialect almost instantly.”
Synonyms
04imitative or fake
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. used to describe something that is an imitation or not real.
adj. characterized by imitation; simulated or mock in nature.
“The soldiers took part in a mimic battle to practice their skills.”
“The researchers conducted a mimic trial to observe how the new software would perform under simulated market pressure.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. Note the spelling change in the past tense and present participle: 'mimicked' and 'mimicking'.
Pitfall
He mimiced my voice
He mimicked my voice
When adding suffixes starting with 'e' or 'i' to words ending in 'c', a 'k' must be inserted to maintain the hard 'k' sound.
Real-World Examples
“Confounding the situation further is the fact that “symptoms that can be associated with elevated histamine levels can mimic perimenopausal symptoms”, says Voedisch.” “A ‘body-on-chip’ device developed at Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, mimics how a new drug moves through the human body.” Etymology
From Latin mīmicus, from Ancient Greek μῑμικός (mīmikós, “belonging to mimes”), from μῖμος (mîmos, “imitator, actor”); see mime.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/mimic
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0